Fabre may have Pour Moi take two in Epsom Derby
Published:Rewind two years and an Andre Fabre three-year-old arrived at the Epsom Derby with a highly regarded young jockey on his back and a victory in the Prix Greffulhe in France on his most recent start.
That horse was of course Pour Moi, who went on to win the Derby in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, steaming down the outside to come from virtually last to first inside the final 3f.
The Prix Greffulhe has been known to throw up some wonder horses of the last two decades, with Peintre Celebre, Montjeu and Dalakhani among those successful.
And Fabre may be believing that that he has the mirror image of Pour Moi this year with Ocovango, who led from start to finish in the French Group 2 to remain undefeated in his short career and extend his winning streak to three races.
Fabre has now confirmed that Ocovango will line up at Epsom and he has been installed at 10/1 in the Derby odds, slightly adrift of 11/8 favourite and recent 2000 Guineas victor Dawn Approach.
His similarities to Pour Moi don’t end at having won the same French preparation race and being trained by Fabre.
The plan is to bring the horse to Epsom early for the Breakfast with the Stars event, as Fabre did with Pour Moi, to familiarise him a little more with the course, while he was also have a predominantly unknown jockey in the saddle with a bright future.
Pierre-Charles Boudot may sit third in the French jockey table, but little is known of him this side of the Channel and so the Derby could be the first chance to witness just how good he is.
The only real difference with Pour Moi is that Ocovango is much more comfortable setting his own pace than Pour Moi.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
