LONDON // Mick Channon delivered an upbeat report on Zain Al Boldan as 13 fillies stood their ground at the final declaration stage for the Oaks at Epsom tomorrow.
Zain Al Boldan, owned by Jaber Abdullah, the UAE businessman, was a six-length winner in May of the Lingfield Oaks trial. The 2,200-metre race last produced the Oaks victor in 1999, when Ramruma won for Henry Cecil.
Channon, who also runs Fork Handles and has never won the Oaks in five attempts, has become increasingly confident about Abdullah's horse over the past few weeks and cannot wait for the fillies' Classic to take place.
"They're ready to run, so roll on Friday," Channon said. "I'm very pleased with them both.
"We're chuffed with Zain Al Boldan. It was a great performance in the trial but that's behind us now. She's got to step up to the mark. I think she's improved, but the same applies to Fork Handles; she had Group form last year."
Mickael Barzalona, who has been riding with increasing frequency for Godolphin, will take his first ride for Aidan O'Brien having picked up the spare Ballydoyle mount aboard Why.
O'Brien's main hope is Wonder of Wonders, who will be ridden by Keiren Fallon, and was declared alongside Eirnin, ridden by the trainer's son, Joseph, and Misty For Me, who will be partnered with Seamie Heffernan.
As expected, Godolphin's Blue Bunting, who is considered the most likely winner after success in the first British fillies' Classic last month, makes the final line-up and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori. The Italian jockey is aiming for his fourth win in the race, which he last captured with Kazzia for Godolphin in 2002.
"Blue Bunting has done extremely well since the Guineas, has gained a little bit of weight, looks fantastic and her work has been very nice so, fingers crossed, everything is positive," Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said. "She is bred to stay much further and has always looked like she wants a mile-and-a-half, so winning the Guineas was a fantastic bonus."
The field is completed by Siren's Song, Izzi Top, Havant, Dancing Rain, Blaise Chorus and Beatrice Aurore, owned by Benny Andersson of the pop group ABBA.
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
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B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full