She's a Maneater faces tough test from Another Bullet

TRIPLE CROWN winner SHE'S A MANEATER will this afternoon prove whether she's a three-year-old bully or the real deal when she faces 10 open allowance horses, including five-year-old, ANOTHER BULLET, who she beat by four lengths at a mile in June when running four pounds lighter than her older rival.

The 11-horse line-up for the 1500-metre Fontainbleu Trophy also includes ORPHEUS, the four-year-old who was awarded last year's Derby in the stewards' room after a dramatic double disqualification involving the first two past the post, FUTURE KING and BIGDADDYKOOL.

Though ORPHEUS might very well need another race or two to bring him up to open-allowance pace, having beaten the class below, overnight allowance, at 1200 metres, two weeks ago, ANOTHER BULLET is battle-ready and awaiting SHE'S A MANEATER after giving the filly a run for her money with the handicaps against him in June.

ANOTHER BULLET confirmed his preference for middle-distance races with a big performance in the 1300-metre Saint Cecelia Trophy last Wednesday, going down by the shortest of margins, a nose, to old rival CHOO CHOO BLUE, an improving United States-bred filly, who caught him at the wire in a fast 1:18.3.

Reporting razor sharp with Panamanian Dick Cardenas again in the saddle, Patrick Lynch-trained ANOTHER BULLET will enjoy 1500 metres against SHE'S A MANEATER, who now gives him four pounds, an eight-pound swing from their meeting in June when she overpowered him inside the final furlong.

Though she hasn't raced since winning the St Leger in July, SHE'S A MANEATER has looked very good at exercise. She clocked a sharp 1:27.2 for seven furlongs last Saturday morning and has ANOTHER BULLET as the only contending speed in the race.

ANOTHER BULLET may have the handicaps in his favour, running four pounds lighter than the filly, but SHE'S A MANEATER's class is undisputed. She has enough mid-race pace to stalk and outfinish ANOTHER BULLET at 1500 metres. The distance will actually suit her, an extra half-furlong to wear down the five-year-old should he bring race-fitness into play and prove stubborn in the stretch run.

ORPHEUS may appear tempting, considering his back class, however the form of the race he won is highly questionable, beating old stager TRADITIONAL PRINCE by only three-quarter lengths whereas DANCING QUEEN, who was badly hindered at the start, actually finished a close-up fourth after being tailed off down the backstretch.