With less than a length separating the first six across the line, an exceptional ride by Tiffani Brooker paved the way for Al Maher gelding Monsieur Gustave to register
Carrying the colours made famous by Golden Slipper hero Phelan Ready, Monsieur Gustave defeated the Rex Lipp-trained In His Stride (Rothsay) by a short head, with a short neck to Godolphin's Federal (Medaglia d'Oro) in third place.
Now trained at the Sunshine Coast by Darryl Hansen after beginning his career with Jason McLachlan, Monsieur Gustave advances his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 14 starts with earnings of $225,400.
"I didn't have a ride in the race and Daryl rang me this morning and said they were going to run Monsieur Gustave and was I available," Brooker told AAP.
"I knew he was a promising horse who was down in the weights. I also knew he raced up on the pace and when he was able to do that he proved very tough."
The Glasshouse Mountain Sprint at the Sunshine Coast in a fortnight has been pencilled in for the 4yo gelding.
A $34,000 purchase by McLachlan Place Racing Stables out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Monsieur Gustave (pictured above as a yearling) boasts some illustrious relatives.
His dam Saigon Moonlight (Stravinsky) is an unraced sister to Group III winner Estelle Collection the dam of the champion sprinter, Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice) with names like Lonhro, Grosvenor, Niello,
Now owned by Armidale Stud, Saigon Moonlight has a yearling filly by Needs Further who was purchased by Kelvin Wadley for $22,000 at this year's Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
After not being served in 2015, Saigon Moonlight was covered by Tough Speed (USA) last spring.
Monsieur Gustave becomes the 33rd stakes winner for Aquis at Emirates Park's Danehill stallion Al Maher (pictured) whose 2017 fee has been set at $13,200.
