The Derby 2013: Fabre taking the Pour Moi route to success with Epsom contender Ocovango

Pour Moi comes home first for Fabre

Andre Fabre knows the thrill of winning a Derby and he saddles third favourite Ocovango for the 2013 running of the Classic, but what does French racing expert Isabel Mathew make of the colt's chances? 

Wider opinion may say that Andre Fabre is less bullish about his Epsom Derby 10.09/1 third favourite Ocovango than he was before winning the event with Pour Moi two years ago, however this should not be feared. 

France's 24-time Champion Trainer's more reserved countenance is most likely a result of the added pressure surrounding the colt's challenge in contrast to when he took the event for the first time in 2011. Unbeaten in three races to date, Ocovango has a big reputation, and a lot to lose.

Fabre now knows exactly what it takes to have a winner of the Classic, having succeeded on his ninth attempt. Despite this, a factor in his thoughts is surely that he has been in exactly the same position before with two other unbeaten colts held in extremely high regard, Pennekamp and Visindar. Sent off favourite, both of these were never the same again. 

Like Pour Moi and Ocovango, Visindar too had taken the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe in preparation for Epsom, in the process taking his unbeaten tally to three, just like Ocovango.

The difference this time however is that the Chantilly handler has followed exactly the same path as he did for Pour Moi's challenge when he sent the colt over to canter on the track a week before the big event for the first time.

Evidently all went according to plan with his young jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who has had just one ride in England in his career, when third with Brigantin in the Ascot Gold Cup last year.

Boudot has arguably been waiting in the wings behind Maxime Guyon and Mickal Barzalona for some time, but now has his chance to hit the big stage. What he lacks in experience he makes up for confidence and talent. He will have been well prepared by Fabre.

From his reappearance in the Listed Prix Franois Mathet, Ocovango has been a colt that has really taken the eye. That was on very soft ground, as was his sole juvenile start. The jury was then out as to whether he could make the same impression on a firmer surface, which he did last time. 

In two out of his three races to date the colt has led, and he is sure to be ridden handily on Saturday, especially given his number one draw. This was the case in the Prix Greffulhe, where he drew half a length clear from a French Derby prospect having made all the running. 

Despite several positives, there are a couple of potentially negative factors surrounding Ocovango's challenge. To date he has never faced a field bigger than six. Showing himself slightly keen when held up in the Franois Mathet, it remains to be seen how he will cope with the roughness of a race like the Derby. 

In contrast to his stablemate Pour Moi, the colt also appears to have less acceleration in the final stages, but more of a constant cruising speed. This is something that could be difficult if he gets into trouble in-running, and it's unlikely that we will see him coming down the middle for a last-gasp victory in the style of his predecessor!

These shouldn't however take away from the fact that the colt is hugely talented whose limits have not been tested. He is sure to relish the trip on breeding, and also has the advantage of going on all grounds, so it would be no surprise to see the French flag flying once more on the Downs.