Setback for Price-trained star

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Aug 30 AAP - Mick Price will be relying on Heart of Dreams in Saturday's Group Two Makybe Diva Stakes with stable newcomer Predatory Pricer struck down with a hock infection.

Price said Predatory Pricer worked well at Caulfield on Saturday morning but developed an infection and was taken to the Melbourne University Veterinary Clinic at Werribee.

"He's had an operation, he's in recovery and he's fine," Price said.

"He had the hock flushed out."

Price doesn't know if the setback would put the Street Cry entire out of the spring carnival.

The five-year-old had his first start for Price when a long head runner-up to Shoot Out in the J J Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 14, a race he won last year, beating Whobegotyou, Typhoon Tracy and Heart of Dreams.

Predatory Pricer wrenched a joint when 12th in last year's Caulfield Cup (2400m) and was being prepared for this year's Cox Plate (2040m).

Price said he was happy with Heart of Dreams who will again be ridden by Damien Oliver.

The Show A Heart five-year-old was third in the Liston when resuming.

"He's going well, all is fit and well with him," Price said.

"I don't know whether he's peaking yet. He'll be closer to his peak when he gets to the Underwood.

"And he'll run in the Yalumba and the Cox Plate again."

Heart of Dreams is following the same path as last spring when he ran fifth in the Makybe Diva (1600m), won the Underwood (1800m) and ran seventh in the Cox Plate.

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