Ocovango takes test spin around Epsom

More than 220 people attended Thursday's Derby Breakfast with the Stars at Epsom

Downs Racecourse, eight days before the two-day Derby Festival commences at the

Surrey track.

Contenders for the two classics, the Group 1 Derby on June 1 and the Group 1 Oaks

on May 31, worked on the course,

as did two likely runners for the Group 1 Coronation Cup on the Derby undercard. There were lots of interviews

with connections, conducted by Clare Balding and Nick Luck, as well as news from

Epsom Downs.

France's 24-time champion trainer Andre Fabre brought Pour Moi to the

Breakfast with the Stars two years ago prior to the colt's Derby success and he

is hoping Ocovango can replicate that effort.

The Monsun colt traveled over from France and worked under big-race pilot

Pierre-Charles Boudot this morning. Ocovango, unbeaten in three starts in

France, cruised up to his lead horse Hidden Rainbow two furlongs out and

steadily went clear. He was nearly six lengths ahead by the winning post.

"The horse's owner, Prince Faisal, was happy to come here after the last race

in which Ocovango was very convincing (the Prix Greffulhe). He's a definite runner as long as he

doesn't have any setbacks," Fabre said.

"The idea today was to show him the bend

and go downhill. It was not a serious workout but he was moving well and it was

very useful to come here for the horse and jockey.

"It was really important to come also because it is very quiet in French racing

but it will be a lot more hectic here next week.

"It is difficult to assess Ocovango's form, but he is a Derby horse. He has a

very good balance and cruising speed. He'll have one day of rest after today and

then just do regular canters ahead of the race.

"There is a slight doubt about him staying because there is a lot of speed on

his dam's side, but his sire Monsun is a very strong staying influence so I think

he should be OK. He goes on any ground. The race is all about Dawn Approach if

he stays, but everyone has a chance for places.

"Although Pierre-Charles is young, he has been around all the courses in France

and is very experienced."

Karl Burke, whose wife Elaine trains Dante winner Libertarian, believes

the New Approach colt has a realistic chance of reaching the frame.

"He's come out of the Dante as well as could be hoped," Burke said. "He lost

seven kilos at York but has put that on quickly and we're very happy with him.

The Derby meeting has been lucky for us, I think we've had seven or

eight winners over the years, but I don't think I've had an entry in the

Derby, let alone a runner.

"It has created a buzz in the yard but we're not doing anything differently.

He'll have another blow on Tuesday next week and that will be it.

"Like a lot of people, I think we'd like the race to be a bit later on as he's

not the finished article yet. He's a high-class horse, he's guaranteed to stay

the trip and, if handles the track, I can see him running into a place. Then if

anything happens to the other horses, who knows?"

The rank outsider in this year's Investec Derby is likely to be Ocean Applause,

a 500-1 chance with Coral, but both trainer John Ryan and owner Bill McLuskey

are keen to take their chance.

"We like boxing out of our weights a bit. You have to have a dream and if you

don't you wouldn't get up in the morning," Ryan said. "But Bill's had a

listed

winner here before with an outsider in Ocean's Minstrel (in the 2009 Surrey

Stakes).

"Everything has gone wrong for us this year. The horses hadn't been well earlier

in the season but they are coming back now. This fellow won't disgrace us but

whether he is good enough I don't know.

"This was our vision when we bought this horse because he was out of a mare

(2003 Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Aldora) that had done well here."

"I agree with John,"

McLuskey added. "He can pick horses well and it's a day we'll

probably never get again."

The latest Derby betting from Coral, official betting partner of the

Derby Festival: 4-5 Dawn Approach; 4-1 Battle of Marengo; 7-1 Ocovango; 8-1 Chopin,

Ruler of the World; 14-1 Mars; 16-1 Libertarian, Magician; remainder 20-1 and

above.

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