Dream remains for Phillip Island in The Showdown feature

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's outfit harbour great expectations for Phillip Island ahead of his initial start in a valuable contest at Caulfield.

Port Phillip makes his bow in the $1m The Showdown (1200m), retaining nomination for next week's Golden Slipper at Rosehill but unlikely to take that path.

The stable boasts lofty ambitions for Phillip Island after an encouraging launch to the two-year-old campaign with their young stock.

This season's standouts from the Price and Kent Jnr yard include Big Sky, Guest House and Brazen Dechambeau among the juveniles, and Kent Jnr indicated Port Phillip is right up with them.

"Every year we have around 80 two-year-olds that go through the system and as trainers you can rank them in a pecking order," Kent Jnr said.

"When your so-called top three don't fire in certain years, you are concerned about the rest, but when your so-called top three start winning races and showing they're amongst the best in the country, that gives you confidence about the horses just below that top tier.

This colt is in that category we think and I'm looking forward to him stepping out."

Saturday's target follows one trial for Phillip Island this prep, where he scored at Caulfield Heath under Craig Williams last month.

Williams heads to Sydney, so Jamie Melham picks up the mount for the weekend.

"We're going in off one trial, but he trialled really well, and he arguably trialled just as well, or if not better, than Buggsy that won (at Sandown) on Wednesday," Kent Jnr said.

"Craig Williams really liked him and we're under no illusions that it's a hard test.

He is a highly strung horse and we're asking a lot of him to get it right, but there are only three winners in the race and a number of debutants, like us.

The test may be running out a strong 1200 (metres) off one trial, but the upside of the prize money, in a restricted race, was a huge carrot to have a go at and it would be no surprise to see him run really well.

He's a nice colt."

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