Ocovango has added to his growing list of four-year-old maiden winners over the weekend with Percy Warner the latest to enjoy success in that ultra-competitive division when winning at Umma House for Gordon Elliott.
Ocovango joined The Beeches Stud rostrum in Co. Waterford back in 2015 and with his first crop of four-year-olds emerging in 2020, his progeny have hit the ground running, having already produced winners both under rules and between the flags.
The German-bred stallion is a son of leading National Hunt influence Monsun, who was unbeaten as a two-year-old when he won a conditions race at Saint-Cloud. As a three-year-old, he won the Group 2. Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud before going onto also win the Listed Prix Francois Mathet at Saint-Cloud, L.
He then placed four times including third in the Group 1. Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, at Longchamp behind Flintshire, the Group 2. Qatar Prix Niel at Longchamp and the Group 3. La Coupe at Longchamp. He also finished fifth in the Group. 1 Epsom Derby when beaten only two lengths by Ruler Of The World.
His first crop of three-year-old’s proved extremely popular at the 2019 store sales when selling for sums of €75,000, €60,000, €55,000, €47,000, €44,000, €42,000, €38,000, €35,000, €32,000, €32,000, €30,000 etc.
Some of those purchasers of his initial three-year-old’s included: Colin Bowe/Paul Pierce, JD Moore/Richard Spencer, Gerry Hogan BS/Rose Dobbin, M V Magnier, Mags O'Toole, Noel Meade, G C Bloodstock, Monbeg Stables, Liam Cusack, Tom Lacey, Jeremy Scott, Stroud Coleman, Tom Keating, Five Star Bloodstock, etc.
His strike rate in point-to-points so far is something well worth taking a moment to consider. It is reasonably well known at this point that his first runner, Glenlass, scored at Tallow in impressive fashion on the opening weekend of the four-year-old campaign before being sold to Gordon Elliott for £155,000.
Being a notably big chasing type was a further recommendation for the ability of this gelding to come to hand so soon.
Ocovango has had six individual runners in Irish point-to-points including that opening winner. Unanswered Prayers was the second runner and whilst he pulled up he went on to finish a very promising second at Ballingarry behind Neon Wolf on the opening day of this season for Donnchadh Doyle and having had two entries this weekend may well go one better in the very near future.
Comes Recommended was the third runner when turning up at Borris House in early March and whilst he pulled up that day he went on to show notable improvement and win with a taking performance at Monksgrange for Matty Flynn O’Connor a few weeks ago.
Percy Warner was the fourth runner for the sire and he fell on debut at Lismore but turned out on Sunday and won impressively for Gordon Elliott and Jamie Codd.
At this point six individual horses by the Beeches based sire have turned up for a point-to-point run and three have won. Glenglass made a big impression at Tallow, Comes Recommended looked above average at Monksgrange and Percy Warner in overcoming a notable mid-race error showed all the right signs to ensure a successful career awaits when winning at Umma House. Unanswered Prayers has been a very promising second and looks set to run soon based on previous entries, so the early signs are certainly well worth noting for Ocovango.
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