YOUNG 4kg claimer Sandile Mbhele, Durban-based, was the only apprentice to phone Mathew de Kock for the ride on Navarro in an Apprentice’s Challenge race over 1600m at Turffontein on Sunday.

Three-year-old Navarro romped home by five lengths in this MR72 Handicap (headline photo) and Mathew said: “Sandile was the only appy to phone. He’d ridden four winners before this so we gave him the ride and well done to him.”

This was a second run after gelding for Navarro, a high-priced son of Silvano and a mare by Noverre. Mathew said: “He showed us promise early and then went a bit off, but he is improving again and we’d like to win a few more with him.”

Navarro races for Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators.