South African raced Najem Suhail won for the third time in 8 starts in Australia for the De Kock Griffiths stable after a well travelled route to get to his Aussie base. The Australian bred galloper was bought in Australia only to be exported to South Africa where he won once and placed second at Gr2 level in the SA Nursery in 2020. His passport was only getting started and he left South Africa for Dubai only to be sidelined until making his Australia debut in 2022. 

He won a smart race today at Flemington over the 1000m distance, running on well for victory. 

Here is a full assessment of his handicap rating relevant to his South African rating.

Najem Suhail, 5yo, rated a 109 by the handicappers in South Africa before leaving as a 2yo, has won in Australia for the third time, this morning, off a 79 rating (benchmark/merit rating 78 race). Bearing in mind that's 13 points off what we rate our horses which will make him a equivalent 92 (SAF rating) pre this win. That's a full 17 points below his initial SAF 109 rating. He was off over 800 days since leaving SA, first residing in Dubai but never racing. He was then sent to Australia. His SAF record was two runs, for a win and a runner up in the SA Nursery in 2020. He raced for the first time since that run on Sept 24, 2022 in Australia and has won for the 3rd time in 8 starts today at Flemington over 1000m kicking well in the final furling to win going away. Looks to have been rated 70 (equivalent 83 SAF rating) when he first arrived in Australia.

The horse that beat him in that 2020 SA Nursery 2nd at Turffontein was Mount Pleasant. Once a 127 after winning the 2020 Dingaans, he ranks as low as 87 now. His last win was off a 106 in 2021.

Najem Suhail has been superbly handled by Mathew De Kock and Robbie Griffiths.