Mick Price’s progressive stayer Pakal may have been taken out of Caulfield Cup calculations last week, but they enjoyed a consolation win over the weekend with a big victory in Sunday’s 2013 Cranbourne Cup.

Mick Price's Cranbourne Cup winner Pakal could target the 2013 Mackinnon Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The German import has been with Price in Australia since early in the year, their $200,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (2025m) success their second win from five starts down under.

It was an impressive effort from the Lord Of England five-year-old too as they carried the hefty 60kg top-weight to beat Serotrious by two and a quarter lengths.

Given a gun ride up against the fence by big race specialist Glen Boss, Pakal enjoyed their inside draw and proved their potential for future staying success.

Finishing off the winning Cranbourne Cup trifecta just a long neck away again for third was then the Peter Gelagotis-trained Mourinho ridden by Craig Newitt.

Price and connections decided not to pay the third acceptance fee for Pakal to continue onto the $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) this weekend, not wanting to push them too far in their first major prep here.

Two back they were given a chance at a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and showed they could be competitive against that class finishing two and a half lengths away fourth to Mr O’Ceirin.

Boss was certainly impressed with the galloper’s race away effort at Cranbourne, and was tipping them for bigger things to come as they continued with Price.

“He’s shown us very good ability at home but he just hasn’t had the chance to shine and today was his chance,” Boss said on Sunday.

“This was the best field that we’ve ever assembled for a Cranbourne Cup and he made them look second rate, he beat them easily.

“Nobody has seen his true ability on race day just yet, I’ve seen it on gallop mornings but unfortunately we haven’t actually had the chance to see what he is capable of doing.”

There is sure to be a nice Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival race for them around now, Price thrilled with the effort from one of his first imports.

“I’ve really enjoyed training these imports. You have to read them a bit but I’m really enjoying having them in the stable,” Price told Racing Victoria after Sunday’s win.

“He’s a stayer with a turn of foot. He’s clean-winded, he’s sound and he doesn’t take a lot of work.

“We never intended to give him too hard of a spring which is why we didn’t accept in the Caulfield Cup.”

Price named the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, Saturday November 2, as the likely grand final goal for the Cranbourne Cup winner now.

Don’t forget this weekend you can get Double The Odds on the Caulfield Cup once the final field is released on Tuesday, only available by following the link to Ladbrokes.com.au!

2013 Cranbourne Cup Results & Finishing Order

Cranbourne Race 8 – 13/12/2013