OCOVANGO, trained in France by André Fabre, has been purchased to stand at the Beeches Stud under the Coolmore National Hunt banner.

By leading National Hunt influence Monsun, Ocovango was bred by Watership Down Stud out of a daughter of Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner Crystal Music from the Michael Poland family of State Crystal and Solar Crystal.

An impressive winner of his only start as a two-year-old at Saint-Cloud, Ocovango also landed his first two starts as a three-year-old including the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe.

Fifth in the Epsom Derby, he later finished third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris behind stablemate Flintshire who then went on to run second in the ‘Arc’ and won the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase last month.

“We think Ocovango has a lot in common with Flemensfirth,” said the Beeches Stud manager Robert McCarthy. “He’s a lovely big horse, a great colour and like Flemensfirth he was unbeaten at two, a group winner over 10 furlongs and being by Monsun he’s an outcross for all the Sadler’s Wells-line mares.”

Stallions from the Monsun line have become increasingly popular with National Hunt breeders in recent years. His sons at stud include Shirocco, Getaway and Arcadio, while he has also sired the last two winners of the Melbourne Cup – Fiorente and Protectionist.