Predatory Pleases Price

Price will kick off his Melbourne spring campaign with Predatory Pricer and stablemate Heart Of Dreams in Saturday's Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The Caulfield stable's big guns are embarking on tough campaigns, with Predatory Pricer attempting to resurrect his career after the shattering disappointment of last year's Caulfield Cup.

The Street Cry stallion started favourite in the Cup, but staggered over the line in 12th place after injuring his leg.

Connections have transferred Predatory Pricer from Paul Murray to Price, who could not be happier with his progress.

"He's a lovely horse and has a very good preparation," Price said of Predatory Pricer. "He did have a reasonable injury to his off front fetlock, but he's vetted all the time and it hasn't caused him any trouble.

"He's been on the water walker since May and back in the yard since the middle of June. His attitude is good, he's sound and he's also a stallion and on the odd occasion he let's everyone know he's around.

"He trialled here last Tuesday and went good, he finished second to one of (Peter) Moody's and it was a nice half-mile (800m) hit-out."

Predatory Pricer, who won the Liston last year, is yet to win at Group 1 level. In the lead-up to last year's Caulfield Cup he was third to Heart Of Dreams in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes (1800m) and then second to Efficient in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

Price said the Caulfield Cup would be only a secondary consideration this time. He intends following a similar path to last year before heading to Moonee Valley on October 27 for the Cox Plate (2040m) with the seven-year-old.

"Basically we're heading to the Cox Plate, that's his mission, the Caulfield Cup is a remote possibility," Price said. "After we kick off this week, it will be the Makybe Diva, Yalumba and Underwood Stakes, which is a nice lead-in to the Valley."

Craig Newitt will have his first ride on Predatory Pricer in the Liston, while Damien Oliver will pilot Heart Of Dreams, who will either head to the Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup.

"Heart Of Dreams is also going very well. He ran second in a trial, in faster time than the other bloke. I'm really happy with him and the Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup are his options," Price said.

Heart Of Dreams won last year's Underwood Stakes then finished seventh to So You Think in the Plate. He was spelled after that and brought back and finished second to Typhoon Tracy in the CF Orr Stakes in february. His last run was sixth to Danleigh in the Group 1 George Ryder at Rosehill on April 3.

Queenslander Shoot Out, who will also contest the Liston will meet an impressive line-up. Aside from the Price pair Cox Plate winner So You Think and Melbourne Cup hope Faint Perfume could also resume in the Liston.

Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams is also set to use the Liston as his platform for the spring with Irish Derby winner Mourayan and C'est La Guerre, likely to race at Caulfield.

Melbourne-based Kiwi trainer Mike Moroney has pencilled in the Liston as the launch pad for Spring Champion Stakes and VRC Derby winner Monaco Consul.

Moroney said Monaco Consul was being aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, but he has not ruled out a Cox Plate start.

While the Liston regularly attracts the big guns back from winter hibernation it has not been a great guide to the weight-for-age classic.

In 61 runnings of the Group 2 event, only So Called (1978), Tauto (1971) and Tobin Bronze (1966) have won the Liston and gone on to complete the Cox Plate double.