Zindabad tops rich International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A field of eight horses - four Europeans, three Canadians, and one American - will go in Sunday's $1.5 million Canadian International at Woodbine.

The 1 1/2-mile Canadian International will be one of two Grade 1 turf stakes on Sunday's program, along with the $750,000 E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles.

Zindabad, who finished third in last year's International but was disqualified to sixth for causing interference, returns this year in good form and is Daily Racing Form's 5-2 morning line choice.

A 6-year-old trained in England by Mark Johnston, Zindabad got post 3 at the draw Thursday, and will be ridden by Kevin Darley.

While Zindabad's post is favorable, starting position generally is of little importance in a race that involves one complete circuit around the sweeping turns of the E.P. Taylor turf course.

Paolini, the German-based world traveler, also will be making his second appearance in the International after finishing second, beaten a half-length here last year.

Trained by Andreas Wohler and ridden by Andreas Suborics, Paolini will start from post 2 and is the second choice at 7-2.

Also back from last year is Falcon Flight, who finished in a dead heat for sixth in the 2001 International but wound up with a share of fourth via a double disqualification.

Falcon Flight is coming off a troubled fifth-place finish in the Arlington Million. Pat Valenzuela will ride Falcon Flight, the third choice at 4-1.

The 9-2 fourth choice is Ballingarry, one of two 3-year-olds in the field who will carry 118 pounds, eight fewer than their older rivals.

Ballingarry, owned by Susan Magnier and from the powerful outfit of trainer Aidan O'Brien, was a Group 1 winner at 2, and will start from the 4 post under Mick Kinane.

Rounding out the field, with riders, are: Yavana's Pace (Kevin Dalgleish); Full of Wonder (Todd Kabel); Portcullis, the other 3-year-old in the lineup (Slade Callaghan); and Perfect Soul (Robert Landry).

Volga, who will break from post 5 under Jerry Bailey, is the likely favorite in the Taylor. Her foes, in post position order with riders, are: Fraulein (Kevin Darley), Inish Glora (Fernando Serna), Nadia (Corey Nakatani), Choc Ice (Davy Bonilla), and Alasha (John Murtagh).