Philippi gets his chance tonight, he has to stand up and deliver, I think he can, nothing has gone right for him this time in.

He has to stand tall tonight in the Sportingbet Alister Clark at Moonee Valley; in his previous two runs at Flemington, when drawn close, he was bottled up and never saw daylight on each occasion.

Michael Kent has been critical of both rides, there can be no excuses tonight, he has drawn the outside of seven runners and will have the services of Luke Nolan, having his first ride on the colt.

After winning three races back in the early spring, impressively, Kent was baited to run the colt in the Derby, but wisely declined.

Should Philippi win the Sportingbet Alister Clark it would be the first stakes winner for his sire, Host, whose progeny were on a roll earlier in the season and there is couple of handy ones likely to bob up later this month.

Realistically the colt has to win tonight, and win well, as Michael Kent’s long range plan is to take him to Sydney.

This race will be no walk in the park, there are three other top chances in the race, Hvasstan, Sheer Talent and Bass Strait, all ran well in the Australian Guineas.

The Penetrometre reading 4.62, track dead 4, rail true, 30 mls of irrigation during the week.