Heart Of Dreams will kick off his spring campaign in Saturday's Memsie Stakes after pleasing trainer Mick Price in a barrier trial at Cranbourne.The six-year-old, who is the highest rated (115) galloper in the Group Two weight-for-age event over 1400 metres at Caulfield, finished third to Toorak Toff in Monday's opening 900m trial.The gelding was ridden by Damien Oliver who will be aboard on Saturday."He was beaten six-and-a-quarter lengths but that's OK because he was only having a soft trial,"
Heart Of Dreams will kick off his spring campaign in Saturday's Memsie Stakes after pleasing trainer Mick Price in a barrier trial at Cranbourne.
The six-year-old, who is the highest rated (115) galloper in the Group Two weight-for-age event over 1400 metres at Caulfield, finished third to Toorak Toff in Monday's opening 900m trial.
The gelding was ridden by Damien Oliver who will be aboard on Saturday.
"He was beaten six-and-a-quarter lengths but that's OK because he was only having a soft trial," Price said.
"It it is not the time to have a hard trial five days before Saturday.
"So he's running in the Memsie, he's had a good prep, I'm very happy with him.
"He's a weight-for-age horse, it's on his home track and he's there to run well."
Heart Of Dreams is nominated for the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley (2040m) on October 22, a race in which he ran seventh to So You Think in 2009.
But the dual Group One winner remains suspect at the distance.
His past two victories have been at 1800 metres in the 2009 Underwood Stakes and this year's St George Stakes, both at Caulfield.
The Memsie Stakes has been a significant lead-up race to spring majors in recent years and it may prove to be again this year with a quality line-up of entries.
Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday, Australian Guineas and Australian Derby winner Shamrocker, VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse, Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva and AJC Australian Oaks winner Absolutely are just some of the 22 nominations.
Maluckyday missed Saturday's Warwick Stakes due to the heavy track.
Leading trainer Peter Moody has Anacheeva, King's Rose and Luen Yat Forever, while Lloyd Williams private trainer Robert Hickmott has Linton, Midas Touch, At First Sight and Alandi entered.
Danny O'Brien has Shamrocker and 2009 Caulfield Cup placegetter Vigor engaged.
Shamrocker showed she was right to kick off her spring campaign with an impressive gallop atMoonee Valley last Thursday when she came away from Vigor in the closing stages of the workout.
So You Think's victory over Whobegotyou in last year's Memsie was followed by four successive Group One wins including in the Cox Plate.
Sunline completed the Memsie-Cox Plate double in 2000, while 2005 winner Makybe Diva went on to take out the Cox Plate and the third leg of a hat-trick of Melbourne Cups.