I have spoken to jockey Kent Desormeaux more than once. He chooses his words carefully. He does not offer strong opinions unless there is a compelling need to do so. Talking to a newspaper reporter, Jockey Desormeaux uttered some words about Big Brown, the winner of the Florida Derby last Saturday. “Wow, with a capital W,” is exactly what Kent said.

Big Brown made light of adversity to register an effortless win in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The British bookmakers reacted. Blue Square, a bookmaking company, slashed Big Brown’s odds to 3-1 and made him the ante-post choice for the Kentucky Derby to be run on May 3. The Boundary colt has won three races in as many starts by a combined 24 lengths.

Several Derby contenders were put through their paces in the past two days. Pyro worked 1,200 metres in one minute 14.6 seconds at Keeneland on Monday. Exercise rider Dominic Terry was aboard Pyro and was accompanied by Sonoma Cat, Shaun Bridgmohan up. Pyro galloped out 1,400 metres in one minute 27.60 seconds. Scott Blasi, back from Dubai, said, “He looked great to me. I had not seen him in six weeks.”

Visionaire will race in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. Trainer Michael Matz explained his thinking. “I did not want to face Cool Coal Man and Pyro. I could not avoid it. The reason for not going to Chicago for the Illinois Derby is that the back and forth shipping was a big concern. We will ship to Keeneland and then it is on to Churchill Downs.”

Colonel John is targeted for the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Trainer Eoin Harty was on hand as Colonel John worked 1,200 metres in 1 minute 10.80 on Monday. After the workout, trainer Harty expressed confidence. “He worked super. He went 1,000 metres in 59.25 seconds and could not have done it any easier.”

Colonel John will take on Georgie Boy and El Gato Malo. Kent Desormeaux will ride Georgie Boy. David Flores will be aboard El Gato Malo,.

At Churchill Downs, Denis Of Cork, Blackberry Road and My Pal Charlie worked. With a little over four weeks left, Derby prospects are on an accelerated schedule.

On Sunday at Saint Cloud in Paris, the track announcer called the wrong horse in a Grade III event. The race was the Prix Edmond Blanc over 1,600 metres. Gris De Gris and Konig Turf staged a duel down the stretch. The announcer called Gris De Gris the winner and fans began congratulating the winning owner. There was noise emanating from the Konig Turf camp soon after and the winning number went up. The number was that of Konig Turf, the invader from Germany.

Stephen Pasquier rode the winner. “He was very courageous and loved the ground. We were lucky as he had his nose in front exactly at the right time.”

Winning trainer Christian Sprengel had this to say, “We came here for soft ground and we got it. We will be back in France. There’s no prize money in Germany.”

Ryan Moore rode a 17-1 triple on Monday at Lingfield in England. Moore is an odds on favourite to win the British riding title this year.

I spoke to trainer Padmanabhan on Sunday after Noble Prince’s win in the St Leger. Trainer Paddy was gracious. “It is something I expected. Noble Prince, talented as he is, has had physical problems. I had to train him with kid gloves. On his day, he is as good as anybody else. All my work paid off.”

Daniel Grant, in a conversation, had said that he would be in Mumbai for the St Leger. Apparently, he took the trouble to go to Dublin and come back. His confidence level must have been high.

“If Haresh Mehta wants me, I will come back. I have enjoyed riding in India. I have been lucky to have good mounts. It has been a tremendous learning experience. I will be a better rider. Mumbai, especially, is great training ground for jockeys. The riders in India are excellent. I am happy I did well in my first season in India. I want to be in India until St Leger day,” jockey Grant told me in February.

Sources: NTRA, Racing Post and others.