HEART OF DREAMS TAKES THE NEXT STEP WINNING THE UNDERWOOD

WHOBEGOTYOU has retained $3.80 favoritism for the Cox Plate despite going down to Heart of Dreams in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday because a start for that horse will not be decided until after he contests the Yalumba Stakes on October 10.

In latest betting on the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 24, Heart of Dreams is into second favorite at $9.50 ahead of Maldivian. Predatory Pricer and the impressive Rosehill winner from Saturday, So You Think are at $10 with El Segundo and Trusting at $14.

Trainer Mick Price conceded going into Saturday’s $350,000 Group 1 weight-for-age Underwood Stakes that Heart of Dreams, $10, was at the cross-roads but the four-year-old stood up to be counted in his upset win over the heavily-backed $2.40 favorite, Whobegotyou.

“I guess the Cox Plate will be his goal now,” Price said. “He was given a good run, peeled out and sprinted very quickly. He passed his first test at the 1800m, now for the 2000m.”

The win by Heart of Dreams completed a rare double for his dam, Academy Of Dreams, which is also the mother of Rightfully Yours, $4.80, an impressive winner of the Listed South Yarra Stakes earlier in the day.

“The mare has had a great day,” Price said. “Good luck to the owners, they put in plenty of time to breed the good horses and they got the result today.”

Heart of Dreams settled midfield one off the fence for Craig Newitt with Typhoon Tracy electing to lead despite pre-race comments by trainer Peter Moody that the mare might be ridden with a ‘sit.’ Predatory Pricer raced too fiercely outside the leader with Maldivian three wide in midfield.

Michael Rodd got back to third last on the hot favorite, Whobegotyou. Craig Williams was the first to make a move charging up on Maldivian to look a real threat on the turn. Newitt tacked onto the back of Maldivian and finished strongly.

“Everything panned out perfectly. We had a great run and got the result,” said Newitt of Heart of Dreams, which will head to the Yalumba before a decision is made on a Cox Plate start.

Rodd had no excuses for the defeat of Whobegotyou, which went down by a long neck. “Another great run. He just peaked 50 metres out.”

Steven King was delighted with the effort of third placed, Predatory Pricer, which again wanted to over-race. “What a horse! He did everything wrong and still ran third.”

Last year’s Cox Plate winner, Maldivian, looks on target to defend his crown after finishing a luckless fourth. “It was an ugly ride,” jockey Craig Williams said. “I hadn’t ridden him before and we were just left out there. He ran an awesome race and is going really well."

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Viewed settled near the tail before passing a few runners late while the 2007 Cup winner Efficient made ground late to finish midfield.

Trainer Peter Moody said Typhoon Tracy, which led and ran eighth, did not run out the 1800m.

$350,000 Group 1 UNDERWOOD STAKES 1800m

HEART OF DREAMS, $10 1; Whobegotyou, $2.40fav 2; Predatory Pricer, $11 3.

ONLY THREE FAVORITES WERE SUCCESSFUL ON THE NINE RACE CARD AT CAULFIELD.