Trainer Mike de Kock summed up undefeated Soft Falling Rain’s less than ideal trip to a tremendous victory in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) on Saturday at Meydan with one precise sentence: “The champions get through.”

The unbeaten, Highlands-bred Soft Falling Rain, gave trainer Mike de Kock a fifth win in the 1600m UAE 2000 Guineas, leading 400m out under Paul Hanagan for his big owner, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, who was present to witness the victory, as was his brother, Sheikh Mohammed.

The pacy Highlands-bred filly Franny ran her nine male rivals ragged with a superb display of relentless speed when winning Sunday’s African Holly Handicap over 1000m at Clairwood unextended.