Trainer Mick Price has mapped out an ambitious Spring Racing Carnival campaign for imports Bit Of Hell and Pakal with the pair both on a path towards the $400,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21. Bit Of Hell, a five-year-old Italian import by Hurricane Run, and Pakal, a five-year-old German import by Lord Of England, both made their Australian debut at Caulfield over 1600 metres on May 25.

Despite Price believing both horses would be better suited over further than 1600 metres, Bit Of Hell closed strongly to finish a narrow runner-up behind the talented Peter Moody-trained Strawberry Boy, with Pakal unlucky not to have also figured in the finish when a luckless fifth.

Price said he had originally planned to trial both horses at today’s abandoned Cranbourne trials and that he now hoped to gallop the pair at Sportingbet Park on Monday before they resumed in an open handicap at Caulfield on August 17 over 1600 metres.

 “They’ll go into the mile race underdone after missing a trial but they’ll both be happy and healthy,” Price said.

“They may both then go to the Listed Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) for their second up run at Caulfield on August 31 and then they’ll probably run in the Underwood.

“I’m pretty sure that’ll be their first three runs and then we will work things out from there.”

In related news, Price said exciting eight-length debut Werribee winner Longma, as well as fellow three-year-old Worth A Ransom, had both returned in good order after a short break.

Price said he was yet to finalise plans with Worth A Ransom but that Longma would probably resume in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 7 before being given his chance to qualify for the $1 million Group 1 BECK Caufield Guineas (1600m) in October.

“He’s had a couple of weeks off since his win at Werribee and he’ll probably resume in the Danehill and then go towards the Caulfield Guines Prelude (1400m) and possibly the Caulfield Guineas,” he said.

“If they had of both raced at Werribee I think Longma would’ve finished in front of Worth A Ransom but the trick with both horses will be once they get out past 1400 metres.

“I’m confident with them both up to 1400, I think Longma is a quicker horse and there’s always the option with a horse like him if he doesn’t get 1600 that we could freshen him up and target a race like the (Group 1) Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m, Flemington November 9).”

Click to view the career form profiles for Pakal and Bit Of Hell