Ocovango, 2013 Derby ?

any of our french friends out there with any info?

dont know great deal about the horse but Monsuns tend to prefer ease in the ground making good on June 1st possibly less in his favour although anything trained by Fabre with a Derby entry has to be half decent...

Essexguy, is it your opinion that Ocovango is Fabre's best colt or have your read/heard Fabre saying he is his best colt? Fabre seems to have a number of very decent 3 year old colts this year and if he said Ocovango was his best it would be quite significant.

By the way, I like Ocovango a lot, I got BF to add him to the Derby betting a couple of months back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GivEm6F04E

Doesn't need cut in the ground in my opinion - what do you reckon?

Was a very smooth victory

beryl, havnt heard Fabre say first hand that Ocovango is his best colt but it has been reported by other comentators.said to be the apple of his eye.

That is good to hear, Triple Threat and Intello have bot been impressive this season.

Ocovango next out on 4th May

would have to be impressed by that,first time I've seen him but he does look good...

Ocovango must be a mis-spelling of Okavango (Delta).
Perhaps they are taking lesson from Coolmore.

is the derby the plan for ocovango?

It is a tried and tested route, as trainer Andre Fabre sent out Pour Moi to land the Group Two contest over a mile and a quarter before going on to win the premier Classic at Epsom two years ago.

Ocovango, owned by Prince Faisal, won his sole start as a juvenile and reappeared with victory in a Listed race last month, both at Saint-Cloud, to earn a top-priced quote of 20/1 with Sky Bet for the Derby on June 1.

"He's a promising colt who won his two races nicely and before we make a decision about the Derby he is going to run in the Prix Greffulhe on May 4," said Fabre.

"After that I will make a decision with the owner."

Big day for Ocovango. Faces 4 rivals in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint Cloud at 5.55pm our time. ATR supposed to be showing it, let's hope they show it live.

Ivan Grozny
Wire to Wire
Bravodino
Superplex

are his rivals. Has to win this and put in a decent performance to book his ticket to Epsom.
A small but very decent field, Bravodino is supposed to be highly thought of and well entered up including at Epsom and also the Irish Derby.

yes, today will tell us a lot, re the derby.

2/5 he is for today's race, are the opposition that strong? If so, 2/5 looks silly.

Even money with 5kybet, 10/11 with Laddies and Billies

He aint 2/5 - he is evens

Thats about right, Bravadino is a very worthy opponent! Hopin Ocovango wins and books his Epsom ticket today

Ah soz, read on twitter he was 2/5!

the dream is still alive

I Had 50/1 25/1 & a little bit of 20s .. just hope it runs now ... Let Dawn Approach !!! But Ocovango will just kick on !

"Andre hasn't ruled out Epsom at this stage but its not as definite as if he'd won by further.  Pierre Charles said he had something left but as to another 2 furlongs, that's what we have to discuss."

Connections of Ocovango are keen to let the dust settle on his impressive victory in the Prix Greffulhe before deciding whether to aim him towards the Investec Derby at Epsom next month.

The Andre Fabre-trained son of Monsun extended his unbeaten record to three with a fine all-the-way win in a Derby trial won by the French trainer's 2011 Epsom hero Pour Moi at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

The three-year-old is a best priced 14-1 with Paddy Power for the premier Classic on June 1, but is not yet certain to make the trip across the Channel.

Ted Voute, advisor to Ocovango's owner Prince Faisal, said: "We were delighted with his performance, he's still unbeaten and we're all very excited.

"He had to make his own running and it was a hard race, but he won very easily and with plenty in hand.

"The Prince was there, which is what it's all about, and we're now just waiting for the maestro Mr Fabre to decide what we're going to do next.

"We said we'd wait a few days and watch the other Derby trials and see what happens in those before we throw our hat into the ring.

"He's entered at Epsom and in the French Derby and we're completely neutral at the moment.

"He's won in very heavy ground and I thought it was good ground on Saturday and he seemed to handle it well, which is encouraging."

Thinly-veiled "does Andre Fabre think Dawn Approach stays a mile and a half" thread imo.

Personally if he wins at Epsom I'm 17grand better off. Very much hope he goes to Epsom. Dawn Approach is a real machine but I just can't see him staying against this fella who looks a grinder and a half to me. Never really tested in what amounted to an exercise gallop on Saturday.

Fingers crossed they BOTH show up. Should be some race. Personally think the field lacking in depth this year I really do with the likelihood of APOB's Kingsbarns not being about for it.

How good, or not, do you think Telescope is Harchibald?

Not sure Ocovango is going to turn up. Andre Fabre in the Racing Post seemed a little disappointed with his performance on Saturday evening - I think he thought he would win in a more impressive manner. Ted Voute's initial comments were pretty similar.

Fabre did say it was 50/50 but I have to say I am not optimistic he will turn up.

French Derby maybe the likeliest option?

I've not seen the run but you can still get 16/1 which is what he was before he ran.

Very much doubt it will run in the derby.Not a race that would suit  but could easily place in an arc.BC bound i would think.

http://www.porunpeloturf.es/?cat=26

Sint I'm not sure re Telescope, I think the syndicate members and the PR guy is responsible for such a short price, this said he could come out and trounce them in the Dante.

Ocovango had a hard enough race from the front and after using up all that energy setting the pace very simply outstayed the runner up.

Intrigued to see if they run him but it doesn't look any better than, as they say, 50/50 for Epsom.

Pricewise has come out and picked RULER OF THE WORLD tonight. I've a lot of time for Duke of Marmalade's and really loved the fella himself. tough ask to win a derby with just 2 runs under the belt though but surely will win at Chester ?

Winning a good chunk on Ocovango but not at all convinced he'd beat Bravodino over an extra two furlongs at Epsom, even if they both showed up.  Sounds like Bravodino's more likely to come over anyway so at 100+ he is the bet right now imo.

The respective jockeys' whip use and body language in the Greffuhle (@turnip turns posted the link to the video) suggests Ocovango always had Bravodino covered. Alan Cooper for the Niarchos family has been just as non-committal as Ted Voute about travelling over. Bravodino appeared twice to lack pace, and I'd expect a serious Derby prospect to be able to win at 10f.

That isn't my reading of it, Ramruma.  Team Ocovango are worried about the extra two furlongs at Epsom.  The Bravodinos are relishing it. 

By Dynaformer and a half brother to a Derby winner in Kris Kin, I find it very unlikely that they'll point him toward Chantilly.  Have watched the race a few times now and can't see Ocovoango holding off Bravodino forever...another two furlongs and he's gone past imo.

Hope they both run anyway....along with one or two other Frenchies.  Fabre's is not a one horse barn this year.

Thought Ocovango was holding him all the way personally and was goin away again at the line, but would like to see em both turn up at Epsom myself too!

Does anyone have the quotes from connections of Bravodino? Is there a chance he has not had his ideal ground yet? Looks possible on breeding. Ocovango is bred for the wet stuff being by Monsun.

serious money trying to back ocovango in the derby place market,

Bravodino seems friendless - anyone seen any updates ?

That money has been there a while Elisjhn. In the 1k Guineas someone put up more than that for Winning Express to place, she went very close in 4th.

surely a good omen that hell run then

Yeah I thought the same. Thought the stake is just over £300, whereas someone wanted nearly £1k on Winning Express. Who knows, might be the same person!

* though the stake

PA Stables ‏@PA_Stables 1m
Andre Fabre confirms unbeaten colt Ocovango on course for Derby @EpsomRacecourse on June 1. Fabre: "All being well he will run at Epsom."

"All being well he will run at Epsom.

"He doesn't need to lead. I just didn't want it to turn into a normal French race where they went no gallop. By making the running we could make it a decent pace.

"By doing that he had no excuses. He'll probably be ridden handily but he certainly doesn't need to lead."

Now that is good news, thanks BJG, where did I put those ante post slips !!

Wow, an antepost punt for me that looks like it will get a run. £17 grand if he wins.

Impressive stuff harchi. I thought I'd been shrewd enough with a tenner at 100-1 in February!

Howellsy this is how it's worked -

2 stakes, £100 win @ 20/1

the other

£90.91 (limited with Lads)

Duke of Clarence 11/2 (won @7/2)
Dawn Approach Evs (won @7/4)
Ocovango @ 12/1 ???????????

Interesting

Yes that's a very exciting treble harchi. What price would tempt you to start laying? I've checked my bet and it's actually £14 at 79 - amazing how the memory plays tricks.

I don't think I will lay it off at all. Going to be away for the Derby (do not ask sore point in this house) and will hear the news when I land - talk about dramatic outcome.

Dont lay anything off has to have a great chance.Top class horse

I would definitely lay off given the prices you are already on and the fact the horse's form is all on soft

Definitely lay off if it is Good to Firm, yeah. Monsun's love a bit of cut in the ground.

what would you chaps lay off then.I just cant see the point.

If he stands to win £17k then i'd lay to get my stake back at 10/1 or less. Still going to collect hefty if he wins. But i'd only lay if it was GF

why lay to get 300 back would you really sint?

£100 back, that's his stake. Foresake £1k if the going is Good to Firm. If he still wins the man will be winning £16k.

thanks for the opinions guys, I don't think laying is an option worth bothering with particularly as I won't have any access near the off.

Fingers crossed, looking forward to breakfast event next week. Still think there may be some value in his price against the favourite. Hopeful but can't say confident ... oh well..

sorry 190.91 looks like his stake if it was me whats 200 nicker but each to his own.

exactly my stake is just shy of 200 quid and I wont miss it back ... treble's on !

ococango has a dosage index of 2.5. The average for derby winners is around 1, with dawn approach---the questionable stayer---has a dosage index of 1.69

good luck harchibald.

Let it run. Feel the pain. No regrets.
Good luck.

If I were in this position I'd put in some lays at the day of race stage, maybe £500 @ 2.5 and £2500@ 1.2. (although sounds like you may have no betfair access at that point Harchi?)

I failed to do this with Orfevre last season, which proved painful.

I'm on at 20's. Then again I'm off with Kingsbarns (£50 at 20/1) and Mars (80 at 14/1) and OCO might place to get me dosh back.

Moved like a good un round the bend having brekkie with the stars. Should be in the first three and Mr F seemed bullish didn't he.

Agree Fabre seemed very bullish, says the horse has all the attributes, and is a serious derby horse. Form looks strong, bearing in mind he has 3rd favourite for the Arc in his stable as well.

Will the jockey get lost around Epsom though.Don't know much about him.

Katherine Fidler says Ocovango will win. Listen to her breeding analysis at Racingpost. Sensible girl is Katherine.

He will have to be better than you hope if he's to win it from stall 1....all depends how they break.

oooh la la Kieron might have got that home though.

definitely unlucky not to place.