CRAIG Newitt will ride impressive last-start import winner Pakal in Saturday’s Slickpix Stakes at Caulfield as the former German horse builds to a Caulfield Cup start. Trainer Mick Price said he offered the ride to Glen Boss, but he chose to ride another ex-German horse, Araldo, for Mike Moroney in the listed race, previously known as the Heatherlie Handicap, reports Racing Network.

Price said Damien Oliver gave Pakal, a six-length winner when resuming at Caulfield on August 17, the nod of approval after riding him in trackwork at Caulfield on Saturday.

“Damien thought he was a nice Caulfield Cup type of horse,” Price said.

Price identified the Naturalism Stakes and Turnbull Stakes as likely progressions for Pakal as they offer the horse a ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup.

He said if Pakal were to run in the Underwood it would deny him a run in the Naturalism and therefore a possible free entry into the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup.

Price’s other import Bit of Hell, who finished last behind Pakal at Caulfield, will also run in the Slickpix. The trainer and jockey Nick Hall are defending his first-up start.

“I thought it was a run of an entire that lacked genuine effort as there's nothing wrong with the horse. He's sound and happy,” Price said.

“Nick said the tempo didn’t suit when they sprinted off in front of him and he'd be better off in a faster-run race.”