BY HURBUN WILLIAMS

Observer writer

THE annual running of the Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy in honour of horse racing’s ‘Iron lady’ takes place at Caymanas Park today.

Cliggott was probably the most successful and enduring woman to train horses at Caymanas Park. Yet not a single filly or mare has been entered in the Graded Stakes encounter that includes a field of seven colts and geldings (three-year-olds and upward).

The event is the highlight of a lively 10-race card going 1,300 metres for a purse of $1,050,000.

The Eileen Cliggott trophy is positioned as the penultimate call on the programme and set to go to post at approximately 4:25 pm with first post at 12:10 pm.

It is one of the most competitive Graded Stakes races to be contested for some time, with trainer Harry Parsard holding a powerful hand in the outcome with four of the most capable runners in the line-up.

Among them are Boy Wonder, Potcheen, Upper Tune and Pete’swildone.

For this any number can play but the choice of rider for each runner could determine the eventual winner.

However, despite the good form of Boy Wonder with the four-time champion jockey Omar Walker continuing in the saddle, it will take a record-breaking run by him to escape the early and late thrust of his three imported stablemates.

This race looks set to test the true quality of Boy Wonder in a field such as this, and if he escapes the thrust of his stablemates then he is on his way to accomplish great things.

However, Gold Cup winner Potcheen is one of the most capable Graded Stakes horses in training at present and unless he is underprepared for the call will not be easily beaten.

Ones To Watch

*Race 1 Buzz Nightmare (Ian Spence)

*Race 2 Make My Day (Robert Halledeen)

*Race 3 Eternal Joy (Aaron Chatrie)

*Race 4 Tooting Cat

(Dane Nelson)

*Race 5 Ballon D’Or (Dan Nelson)

Race 6 Chinitagoodaz (Dane Nelson)

*Race 7 Nicole (Shane Ellis)

*Race 8 Kipling Weekend

(Percy Williams)

*Race 9 Potcheen (O’Brien White)

*Race 10 Sir King Yellow

(Richard Lunan)