One is locally bred, the other a foreigner bred in the United States.

Yet the Diamond Mile, listed for competition on Saturday December 2, could pit the outstanding talent of She’s A Maneater (local) against the courageous flair and competitiveness of Choo Choo Blue.

There is hardly much more to be said about the stellar achievements of She’s A Maneater ( Natural Selection – Ahwhofah), especially after her spectacular win in last Saturday’s Burger King-sponsored Superstakes.

She is a filly with extreme class who can virtually run any which way she chooses, with the distance of a mile almost perfect for her. For most of her 11 wins, She’s A Maneater has had the protection of age group company, but when her trainer Wayne DaCosta decided to mix it up against older and more seasoned horses, the filly responded with alacrity, culminating with the win in the Superstakes (10 furlongs – 2,000m) against the likes of Bigdaddykool and Will In Charge. She’s A Maneater’s final time of 2:06.0 was the fastest for the Superstakes since Miracle Man’s 2:04.3 in 2005.

She’s A Maneater was rested for three days by DaCosta (Sunday to Tuesday) before she was back on the exercise track on Wednesday morning when she cantered nine furlongs easily. The final days of preparation had thus started for the Diamond Mile. Expect a final gallop for She’s A Maneater tomorrow or Sunday and then it will be waiting on tender hooks for the connections.

Many pundits thought that the Superstakes would be She’s A Maneater’s sternest test, and so it was. Now an even greater encounter awaits her, this time from the likes of Choo Choo Blue, a resurging Houdini’s Magic, and Bigdaddykool, in the race which, more than anythiong else defines class – the Diamond Mile.

Choo Choo Blue has improved by leaps and bounds this season. This talented bay filly ( Cowtown Cat – Choobloo) has moved through the various classes without the safeguard benefit of running within a particular age group.

Choo Choo Blue, however, has not won or raced in recent times at distances longer than seven furlongs (1,400m), but even this minor occurence cannot be counted as a negative against her chances in the Diamond Mile. She is versatile, strong and seriously competitive.

Her win in the October 16 Gold Cup (seven furlongs) was from the top drawer, the very top. With a final time of 1:23.4, just a second off the track record held by Eros, Choo Choo Blue firmly put on display her compelling credentials for the Diamond Mile.

Interestingly while She’s A Maneater was receiving all the plaudits for her Superstakes victory, trainer of Choo Choo Blue, Peter McMaster kept his filly at home and did not race in the option available on the day, the Coca Cola Invitational Mile, meaning therefore that Choo Choo Blue will come out on December 2, fit and well rested for the ultimate battle.

On Superstakes Day, Choo Choo Blue at exercise cantered nine furlongs and then on Sunday (Nov 12), McMaster asked his filly to gallpop six furlongs (1,200m) which she did in 1:17.1 in what the clockers described as a very easy gallop.

A clash between these two fillies down to the ‘glass’ would make the richest race in the land sparkle with elegance and refinement, and would raise the competition to an extraordinary level.

December 2, 2017 is two Saturdays away.