MADRID, July 18 - Miguel Angel Delgado has the face of a choirboy and the body of a child, but he moves in the bullring with a calm assurance that belies his 16 years.

"The boy has all the tools needed to be a major star in bullfighting," said Pepe Luis Vargas, director of the Ecija bullfighting school in Delgado's home town in southern Spain.

"He's got class and courage and his head is screwed on tight," said the retired matador who appeared in top bullrings in Madrid and Seville during a 15-year career and who started training Delgado when he joined the school aged eight.

More and more bullfighting schools are springing up in Spain, catering to boys and girls who dream of wearing the sequined "suit of lights" in the country's bullrings. There are 20 legally registered schools in southern Andalucia alone.

Some aficionados complain the bullfighting schools are good at teaching theory but only churn out little bullfighting clones, ill-prepared for the cut-and-thrust of the circuit.

Delgado looks like being the real thing and has plenty of appearances in front of real bulls under his belt. He plans to hone his skills over the next few months, and formally debut in the prestigious Real Maestranza bullring in Seville.

After one fight, veteran commentator Enrique Romero of Andalucian TV station CanalSur gushed superlatives.

"I think this is the best performance I've ever seen in a bullfight for young hopefuls," he said.

Enthusiasts particularly admire Delgado's maturity, the way he passes the charging bull with an impression of slow-motion elegance which shows he is in complete control.

RARE ABILITY

Bullfighting veterans will tell you this is a rare gift and much prized. Vargas is sure Delgado is something special.

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