Verdict

The Singapore-based Dark Matter surprised better fancied rivals in this last year and though Soft Falling Rain will probably start a short-priced favourite there are reasons to oppose him. Mike De Kock's charge was bred in the southern hemisphere so has extra weight to carry as a consequence. He's also penalised for landing a Group 1 at Turffontein last April and has to concede over a stone to GLASS OFFICE and it's Dave Simcock's charge who gets the vote. He was very impressive when landing the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes on Polytrack at Kempton and will take some beating in that kind of form. Mike De Kock also runs another pair of southern-breds in El Estruendoso and Zahee and they should be kept a close eye on for the future as should Timoneer, who had decent form in the UK but isn't well drawn here. Snowboarder had Luhaif just behind when scoring at Kempton in October and the latter's best form has come on Turf.