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A total of 32 horses have been nominated for inaugural running of The Showdown, Melbourne’s new $1 million race for two-year-olds, at Caulfield on Saturday.

The race is named after Showdown, the legendary Victorian stallion of the 1970s, and is open only to progeny of Victorian-based stallions nominated for the VOBIS Sires Race Series.

The impressive entry includes the Sydney-trained Hightail from Peter and Paul Snowden stable. The son of Victoria’s leading stallion Written Tycoon has amassed $273,240 in prizemoney from his six career starts including two wins.

He is set to challenge the exciting Prince Of Sussex, a dominant winner of the VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo last month after an effortless victory at Mornington for trainer Matt Laurie.

Prince Of Sussex is by imported stallion Toronado, who stands at Swettenham Stud and boasts the highest number of nominations for The Showdown with five of his progeny on the entry list, one more than Starspangledbanner.

Sandown debut winner Geraldine’s Jewel, a $5500 bargain buy at last year’s Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale, is named after trainer Mark Ashby’s mother.

At the other end of the scale the $600,000 filly Sisstar cost twice as much as her famous sister, the triple G1 winner Sunlight.

The Lindsay Park training team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have four entries including Mishe Mokwa, an impressive debut winner at Mornington.

Saturday’s Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday features seven VOBIS Gold Premier Races offering more than $2.5 million in prizemoney and bonuses.