The undefeated Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Immortal Love has returned a first-up winner at Caulfield on Memsie Stakes Day kicking off his Caulfield Guineas 2020 campaign with a win in the Group 3 $160,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m).

Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa (pictured) had to settle for third behind Immortal Love in the 2020 HDF McNeil Stakes first-up. Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Snitzel gelding went out a back-to-back winner in easier company over the winter and was impressive first-up in a three-way photo thriller defeating the Danny O’Brien-trained Flying Award (2^nd) and returning Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa (34d) in the HDF McNeil Stakes 2020.

Ridden to victory by Craig Newitt who made it three-from-three on the progressive youngster, Immortal Love retained his undefeated status ahead of his shot at the Group 1 $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10.

“He did a great job,” Price said.

“And you can add about three lengths to his form if he does get a wet track.

“He’s a gelding. He’s uncomplicated. Fantastic.”

Co-trainer Mick Price confirmed next-up plans for Immortal Love who will now head towards the Listed $140,000 Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington September 12 and then into the Group 3 $250,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) a fortnight after that.

“He’ll go to the Exford in two weeks, then the Guineas Prelude and then the Caulfield Guineas,” he said.

“Remember his second start at Flemington, he was quite dominant there on a wet track so if they’re lucky enough to get a wet track for him, as I said, you can add about three lengths.”

Hard Landing led them around in the HDF McNeil Stakes with the favourite Tagaloa settled third then second throughout.

On the home straight Extra Time moved up to make it a line of three at the 250m before Newitt came flying down the outside on Immortal Love.

Extra Time and Tagaloa went stride from stride over the final furlong before the challenges from the back came inside the last 50m to turn it into a three-way photo thriller.

Right on the line, Immortal Love just got over the top of Flying Award in a diving finish, while Tagaloa was brave holding for third with the big weight.

Beaten favourite in the HDF McNeil, Tagaloa also heads towards the Caulfield Guineas a hopeful stepping-stone into the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight later.

Last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Super Seth (2019) won the HDF McNeil Stakes before claiming the scalp of brilliant Queenslander Alligator Blood three runs later in the Caulfield Guineas.

All-in Caulfield Guineas odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au on Immortal Love are at $21 following the HDF McNeil Stakes results with Tagaloa retaining $8 favouritism.

Click here for the latest 2020 Caulfield Guineas betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes Results

Colour	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	10	IMMORTAL LOVE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Craig Newitt		4	57kg		$9.50
	2	7	FLYING AWARD	Danny O’Brien	Damien Oliver	0.1L	6	58kg		$10
	3	1	TAGALOA	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Michael Walker	0.2L	8	59.5kg		$3.40F
	4	4	EXTRA TIME	Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas	Jamie Kah	0.4L	12	58.5kg		$31
	5	11	RANTING (NZ)	Leon & Troy Corstens	Dwayne Dunn	0.8L	10	57kg		$17
	6	9	CROSSHAVEN	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Daniel Stackhouse	1L	2	57kg		$8.50
	7	8	KHOEKHOE	Matt Cumani	Fred W Kersley	3.5L	7	57kg		$18
	8	6	RATHLIN	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jye McNeil	3.8L	3	58kg		$15
	9	14	NATIONAL CHOICE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Michael Dee	4L	13	57kg		$14
	10	2	HARD LANDING	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Craig Williams	4.75L	11	58.5kg		$31
	11	13	THE LAST CHARGE	Kevin Corstens	Beau Mertens	4.85L	9	57kg		$101
	12	16	LOCA	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Damian Lane	5.85L	1	57kg		$51
	13	5	LARIMER STREET	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Michael Rodd	6.05L	5	58kg		$51
	14	3	OUR PLAYBOY	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Ben Melham	7.05L	14	58.5kg		$6.50
	15	15	BRANDERS RULE	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	7.35L	15	57kg		$31
		12	ALBARADO (NZ)	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Jordan Childs		0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.