Trainer Michael Kent will assess Philda at Moonee Valley before confirming him for the Winter Championship Series Final

Cranbourne trainer Michael Kent will assess six-year-old Philda when he runs at Moonee Valley on Saturday before confirming him as a starter in the $200,000 Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington Racecourse the weekend after.

Should Philda continue to perform in the Don Abell Cup on Saturday, Kent expects him to be a serious Winter Championships contender.

Kent scratched Philda from the same event last year, but feels that the horse has come a long way in the past 12 months.

“He’s never performed at Flemington but he’s a year older now and settling better so I’m considering it,” Kent said.

However, first Philda will have to contend with barrier 16 in this weekend’s Cup at the Valley.

“He’s drawn terribly on Saturday which makes it harder,” Kent said.

Kent feels that Philda, who has won 11 of his 35 race starts, has been treated unfairly by the ratings system in the past.

The trainer insists that Philda’s current rating of 103 is too high.

“He’s one of those ratings horses who wins on his right mark but then pays the penalty by going up four points,” Kent said.

“I don’t think he should have gone up at all.”

Philda is currently a Stakes placed gelding and has already earned his connections prize money of $330,000.