The race for a coveted Caulfield Cup berth is on in earnest in Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes and trainer Mick Price is hoping it is one of his European imports who get the prize.

Price will start Pakal and Bit Of Hell in the Group Three Naturalism (2000m) at Caulfield, with the winner exempt from ballot for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.

Pakal goes into the race off a last-start third to Ibicenco in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m), a race where he worked hard from an outside draw and chased a hot speed set by Spacecraft.

Craig Newitt retains the ride on Pakal, an impressive first-up winner by six lengths at Caulfield before his Heatherlie Handicap placing.

“He just needs to draw a gate, Craig needs to ride a nice race and hopefully he can win and get a berth into the Caulfield Cup,” Price said.

The Naturalism is one of two planned chances to secure Caulfield Cup qualification with the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) two weeks later also carrying a ballot exemption for the winner.

Price said Pakal was a happy horse heading into the Naturalism.

“He’s excellent and I thought his run in the Heatherlie was good,” Price said.

“He had barrier 14 of 16 and had to work, work, work. The first 1200 metres was very hard for him but he still hung on and ran third.

“That’s not him. He needs a nice run in the race.”

Bit Of Hell is yet to fire in his two starts this campaign.

The entire missed the Heatherlie Handicap and instead contested the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) a week later where he took up the running from the outside gate and weakened in the straight to beat one runner home.

“The sectionals were against him and December Draw because they locked into an eye-ball battle. Most of that race was run way too hard,” Price said.

“But Bit Of Hell is all right.”