Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

BOY WONDER makes his big league appearance, taking on his three grade-one stablemates - POTCHEEN, UPPA TUNE and PETE'SWILDONE - in tomorrow's 1300-metre Eileen Cliggott Memorial.

The seven-horse line-up is completed by CRUCIAL APPEAL, RIO COBRE and CAMPESINO, who have it all to do against Harry Parsard's quartet.

A winner of seven of eight starts, unbeaten in his last five, BOY WONDER put on another awesome display on January 10, clocking 1:17.1 for 1300 metres. The four-year-old chestnut colt carried top weight 57.0 kilos and won going away by five and a half lengths.

Chased by CAMPESINO, BOY WONDER set his own pace on the bridle and moved away up the lane when given gentle reminders by Omar Walker, clocking splits of 23.2, 46.3 and 1:10.3.

Making his grade one debut, BOY WONDER will carry 53.0 kilos, down nine pounds from his open allowance romp.

Sitting at the top of the scale is POTCHEEN at 55.0, eased two kilos by O'brien White's apprentice claim. Omar Walker, who partnered POTCHEEN to victories in last year's Caribbean Sprint and Gold Cup, has stayed with BOY WONDER aboard whom he has won six races.

Walker choosing to stay aboard BOY WONDER, a far easier ride than POTCHEEN, has to be noted. POTCHEEN, despite top weight, is a tough and seasoned six-year-old, who relishes a strong pace to chase. He produced storming stretch runs to win last year's Caribbean Sprint and Gold Cup with Walker aboard.

However, BOY WONDER has been in tremendous form and is genuine to the core. He is not a tearaway leader and should be comfortable enough at 53.0 kilos to sit in what is expected to be a torrid pace with CRUCIAL APPEAL in at 50.0.

CRUCIAL APPEAL carried 57.0 kilos and toppled TALENTED TONY K at 1000 metres straight last Saturday. Reporting 16lb lighter, CRUCIAL APPEAL is bound to try making all. However, BOY WONDER's stablemate, UPPA TUNE, is hardly ever led and is sure to run CRUICIAL APPEAL ragged on the lead.

This should set up things perfectly for BOY WONDER and POTCHEEN. BOY WONDER, with better early speed and great mid-race pace, gets the nod over his seasoned stablemate.