MINISTEROFJUSTICE (Dane Nelson) leads home rivals in the St Catherine Cup for open allowance horses over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Offering odds of 9-5, the vastly improved 4-y-o chestnut colt is owned by Kevin Jones and trained by Michael McIntosh. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Eight starters have been declared for the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race for the Ash Wednesday Trophy over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park today including classic aspirant BRUCEONTHELOOSE, who makes his three-year-old debut.

Trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, BRUCEONTHLOOSE established himself as one of the top two-year-olds of last season and now embarking on his classic campaign, looks the one to beat from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.

Although highly fancied to win, BRUCEONTHELOOSE can expect stiff opposition from fellow three-year-old colt MY SPACE, along with the sparingly raced four-year-old gelding, THE REAL STREAM, who is coming off a recent win.

HAIL THE GENIUS

Not to be discounted, is the Gary Subratie-trained HAIL THE GENIUS, who ran above himself when finishing on the heels of REGAL SELECTION in the fast-run King's Plate over 1500 metres on February 14.

BRUCEONTHELOOSE won the $3 million Cash Pot Super Challenge Trophy for two-year-olds over 1400 metres last November, beating none other than subsequent two-year-old champion, MISS RUTH, in a driving finish.

By virtue of that performance, BRUCEONTHELOOSE was installed favourite to win the prestigious Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres last Boxing Day, but ran into MISS RUTH and had to settle for third, with subsequent winner THE GUMMER finishing a close second.

BRUCEONTHLOOSE has been taken to task at exercise in preparation for this trophy, galloping five furlongs in a brisk 59.4 on February 16.

The Wheelaway-Road To Justice offspring starts his campaign leading up to the April 4 2000 Guineas and, according to reports, will next run in the Prince Consort Trial Stakes over 1400 metres on March 14.

Stable companions

If BRUCEONTHELOOSE is to have any winning chance in the Guineas, he should be able to put away MY SPACE, who he beat three times at the back end of last season, and also THE REAL STREAM, who had to struggle to beat his lesser fancied stable companion, UNBREAKABLE HEART, over 1200 metres on February 7.

In fairness to THE REAL STREAM, who was the champion two-year-old of 2007, that was his first outing in almost 11 months and, now a lot better for it, he should make a brave bid under in-form rider Shane Ellis.

I am expecting BRUCEONTHELOOSE to race in close touch of the expected leader, NATURALLY ROYAL, before getting first run on THE REAL STREAM entering the straight and holding him, and the late-closing HAIL THE GENIUS, at bay to the wire.

Other firm fancies on the card are ENDURING to go one better in the first race over 1400 metres, STRONG DELIVERY in the third, RISK REWARDS to outfinish TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE in the fifth, LINDA BLAKE in the sixth and GUIDING LIGHT to catch GALLAVANTER and SPECIAL CAT in the eighth.