Philip Feanny (left) trainer of BRUCEONTHELOOSE and the colt's regular jockey Winston Griffiths. - Ian Allen

IT will speed against pace when MISS RUTH and BRUCEONTHELOOSE knock heads in Friday's Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes at a mile, hunting the $1.89m lion's share of the $3.5m purse and the champion two-year-old title.

Beaten only by each other, both horses killed their chances of winning the million-dollar bonus for a sweep of three-race Supreme Ventures Two-Year-Old Series.

However, there is still much to run for as Friday's Two-Year-Old Stakes is the biggest juvenile race on the local racing calendar and features a showdown not just of the top two youngsters in training but also a clash of connections, who have dominated the event in its 28-year history.

Trainer Philip Feanny's BRUCE-ONTHELOOSE nabbed Percy Hussey's MISS RUTH close home in the November 29 Pick-3 Trophy over seven furlongs, equalling the score after she had beaten him at 1200 metres in the Cash Pot Trophy on October 18.

Feanny is eyeing an incredible eighth win in the event, whereas the Husseys, after whose matriarch, Ruth Hussey, MISS RUTH is named, are hunting their fourth success.

In fact, only one other trainer, Richard Azan, has split Feanny and the Husseys in winning the event for the past eight years, scoring back-to-back success in 2004 and 2005 with KAMIR and RAMPAGE, respectively

The Husseys won the event last year with JOSIE WALES and Feanny notched his sixth win with RUM TALK in 2006.

A field of 11 will go to post with Panamanian rider Dick Cardenas set to try making all the running with MISS RUTH.

However, BRUCEONTHELOOSE, partnered by veteran Winston Griffiths, should wear her down inside the stretch run.

She got away from him in the Cash Pot Trophy at six furlongs to score her third straight win, which was only his second start. However, BRUCEONTHELOOSE was gaining at the end, beaten by a length and three-quarter, and franked the form in the longer Pick-3 Trophy, nailing the filly close home to win by a half-length.

At a mile, MISS RUTH's stamina limitations will be further exposed. Griffiths will be looking to stalk the filly, knowing his colt stays better and will be stronger over the additional furlong.

Both horses looked sharp at exercise last week, MISS RUTH blazing 59.1 in a flat five furlongs whereas BRUCEONTHELOOSE galloped six furlongs in 1:13.3, beating stablemate WESTERN REPORT, who was clocked in 1:14.2

MY SPACE, who was third in the Pick-3 Trophy and returned to frank the form by beating American-bred LITTLE WASP at 1200 metres a week later, should chase home the top two.

The Harry Jackson Memorial at 2400 metres should be won by Superstakes champion AD INFINITUM after his big victory over ALSAFRA on Superday.

AD INFINITUM returned to place sixth at 1400 metres behind AHWHOFAH, ENGLISH STORM and MUCHO GUSTO, a distance well short of his best, finishing only six lengths off the winner.

He had top weight 57.0 kilos, which none of the three horses in the frame carried, and returns at 56.0, lighter than MAJOR MAYER, 57.0, who he had beaten by almost nine lengths in the Superstakes.

Feanny's RUM TALK comes in at 52.0, down from 57.0 in the Superstakes, tumbling 11 lb after finishing four lengths off AD INFINITUM.

However, despite the weight swing in RUM TALK's favour, AD INFINITUM, is the more powerful finisher and should be clear of any late charge Feanny's runner might attempt in the straight.

BRUCEONTHELOOSE (right), with Winston Griffiths up, scoring by a length over 6-5 favourite MISS RUTH (Dick Cardenas) in the Pick 3 Super Challenge Trophy on November 29. The outstanding two-year-olds will clash again on Boxing Day at Caymanas Park. - file