Mdk silks to the fore at Flemington

Five-year-old Najem Suhail posted his third win in Australia on Saturday when he won the MR78 Trevor Clarke Handicap over 1000m at Flemington Park in Melbourne. He clocked a class record 57,02s.

Najem Suhail has now won three races since coming to Australia from South Africa via Dubai. He races in partnership for Mike de Kock and a group of young Dubai-based owners assembled by Mohammad Mardood for the Blue Stables Syndicate and is trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.

Najem Suhail swept into the lead 200m out, under Thomas Stockdale, to win going away.

Mike said: “I am very proud to see my silks win at Flemington, one of Australia’s premier tracks, and we hope there will be more.” Mike’s SA silks are white with a red Maltese cross, in Australia those were already registered so he went for red with a white maltese cross.

“Najem Suhail has worked his way up the ranks and he can progress more, we’re hoping to look at something at the Listed level in due course.”

Najem Suhail is by Starspangledbanner out of Sophie’s First, bred by Gilgai Farm, Nagambie.