The Mick Price pair of Grunt and Mighty Boss are a step closer to a racetrack return after a gallop between races at Caulfield.

The Caulfield Guineas-winning Mighty Boss shaded his Australian Guineas-winning stablemate at the end of the hit-out with neither galloper asked to break the clock.

Price said the pair would head to the Cranbourne barrier trials on August 6 before making their returns in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18.

"I was happy with both of them," he said.

Price explained Mighty Boss was more advanced in his preparation than Grunt expecting the three-year-old colt to be suited over a shorter trip in a race like the Toorak Handicap while Grunt is on a course to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

"I thought I'd have Mighty Boss a bit sharper but (Michael) Walker has been in my ear saying he thinks he'll be a fantastic 2000-metre horse," Price said.

"All I know at the moment is Grunt's a real Flemington horse and I'm trying to win a Cox Plate and Mighty Boss could be an ideal Underwood Stakes horse."

Price said the pair's first-up performances will determine their spring programs.

He said Mighty Boss was likely to head to the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield while Grunt will be bound for either the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley or the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.