Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Having bypassed Saturday's Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup, the 2000 Guineas hero BRUCEONTHELOOSE preps for the June 13 Derby today when he takes on five opponents in an open allowance contest over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park.

The card, which features the Labour Day Trophy (claiming $470,000-$440,000) over 1200 metres, offers nine races with a 12:45 p.m. post time.

Unbeaten in three starts this season, BRUCEONTHELOOSE won the 2000 Guineas by a nose after an epic duel with THE GUMMER on April 4, and reports in fine fettle for today's encounter.

Trainer Philip Feanny just didn't want to expose his hand against Derby rivals in the Lotto Classic, but similar to the 2000 Guineas hero ROYAL IMAGE last year, decided against the Lotto Classic in preference to this open allowance contest.

Easy win

The Anthony Nunes-trained ROYAL IMAGE won quite easily before meeting his match in the filly ALSAFRA on Derby Day. And 'BRUCE' is expected to win his Derby prep as well, with customary pilot Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths again in the saddle.

Still, his task might not be as easy as ROYAL IMAGE's a year ago, as 'BRUCE' faces a really formidable opponent in the vastly improved four-year-old gelding, HOMBRE.

From the stables of veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, HOMBRE has won his last two races in impressive fashion, the more recent over the course on February 28 when slamming subsequent winner AGUILA by 6-1/2 lengths in the good time of 1:55.0.

HOMBRE has good speed and although up against a progressive three-year-old as 'BRUCE', is coming to run and should ensure he is extended from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.

However, if BRUCEONTHELOOSE (working well) has any intention of winning the Derby, he should be good enough at this stage to put away HOMBRE and that useful two-turn horse PRIME MINISTER, even with top weight of 57.0kg.

Recent winners

Meanwhile, 11 starters have been declared for the Labour Day Trophy, among them the recent winners DANCING SAM and MARK TO MARKET.

These two, along with YAMASHITA'S GOLD, should carry the bulk of the betting, but others capable of figuring are CIRCLE DROME, ROYAL MAJESTY and LADY WALES.

DANCING SAM stormed through approaching the distance to win easily over the round five course on May 9 when having the likes of subsequent winner FREE FALL (2nd), CIRCLE DROME (3rd), YAMASHITA'S GOLD (4th) and THE BEST MAN (8th) in arrears.

All, with the exception of FREE FALL, renew rivalry with DANCING SAM (Omar Walker again slated) today, but he's expected to confirm his superiority over the others and his chief threat must be the top weight MARK TO MARKET, who won narrowly over the straight five course on April 18 and was immediately claimed by the Husseys for $450,000.

Other firm fancies on the card are RUN SMILE RUN over the straight, BALLROOM DANCER in the fourth, FIRST EDITION in the sixth, FUGITIVE in the seventh and PLEASANT PRINCESS in the nightpan.