Queenslander Monsieur Gustave capable of being effective in stronger southern states stakes races
The progressive Sunshine Coast-trained Monsieur Gustave (Al Maher) has not raced outside of Queensland in 17 starts but his effort in winning Saturday’s George Moore Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Doomben suggests he is well capable of being competitive in stronger Sydney or Melbourne stakes grades.
Trained by Darryl Hansen and ridden by non-claiming apprentice Tiffani Brooker, Monsieur Gustave showed his quality on the watch with a very game performance in taking out his fourth successive stakes victory, albeit by the barest of margins, after a testing trip.
Having his second run this preparation, Monsieur Gustave really worked from his outside barrier (10) before getting to the front on passing the 800 metres.
But no sooner had he found the lead, he was then pressured from that point, before briefly getting clear shortly after straightening.
Monsieur Gustave then really demonstrated his fortitude, fighting back gamely under 58 kilograms to score by a nose from the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Calanda (Snitzel) with Snoopy (Lope De Vega) a half-head away third.
Time for the race on the upgraded Good 4 track was a smart 1:09.28.
And a feature of the win was the fact that Monsieur Gustave raced on a strong tempo throughout with the first 600 metres being clocked a quick 34.70 and the final 600 metres slightly faster in 34.58.
It was Monsieur Gustave’s eighth win (with three placings) from 17 starts and his first at Group level, advancing after winning the Eye Liner Stakes (Listed, 1350m) at Ipswich in June, the Glasshouse Handicap (Listed, 1400m) at the Sunshine Coast in July and the Keith Noud Quality (Listed, 1200m) when resuming at Ipswich on 22 November.
But Darryl Hansen is in no rush to test Monsieur Gustave in Sydney or Melbourne and will chase a $500,000 local bonus to the winner of the George Moore Stakes and the upcoming Lough Neagh Stakes (Listed, 1350m) and Buffering Quality (registered as Falvelon Quality) (Listed, 1200m).
Earlier in the Doomben programme, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly Pretty Fast (Not A Single Doubt) made it four successive wins with an impressive victory in the Mode Plate (Listed, 1200m).
She now remains unbeaten this preparation with the progressive filly advancing from a first up win in a Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle on 21 October to take out Saturday’s quality three-year-old fillies’ race, her first stakes success in seven starts to date.
Damian Browne, who rode her vigorously in the early stages, soon steered Pretty Fast through on the rails and after taking the lead, she turned for home holding a big break before going on to win impressively by almost three lengths in the smart time of 1:09.38 on the upgraded Good 4 track.
Time for the first 600 metres was a quick 34.86 with the final 600 metres slightly quicker in 34.52, adding merit to Pretty Fast’s performance, who maintained a strong tempo throughout.
In the Two-Year-Old Plate (1050m), the Tony Seers-trained filly Ardoyne Road (Top Echelon) suddenly emerged with prospects for next month’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) with an impressive debut win.
After being slowly away from her outside barrier (12), Ardoyne Road made a fast early move and quickly looped the field to take the lead approaching the 600 metres.
She straightened with a clear advantage and went on to win by just over three lengths in a time of 1:01.19 (11.65 200m rate), equivalent to 58.27 for 1000 metres – smart time on the then Soft 7 track.
In another interesting juvenile race, the Two-Year-Old Plate (1100m) at Rosehill resulted in a three-way finish with all placegetters deserving mention.
The winner, the Gary Portelli-trained filly Perfect Pitch (Pierro) was having her second race start and after being handily placed all the way, she overcame some greenness in the straight to score by a head returning a really good closing sectional time of 56.99 for her last 1000 metres.
While the runner–up, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly Miss Invincible (I Am Invincible) impressed with her debut performance.
Miss Invincible began brilliantly and went straight to the front, but then raced a bit keenly in stages, before fighting off challengers, only being beaten narrowly at the post.
She returned very smart sectionals, her 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000 metres) being 10.44, 11.22 (40m in 21.66), 11.61 (600m in 33.27), 11.61 (800m 44.88) with her final 200 metres in 12.38 to give her a quick final 1000 metres time of 57.26.
While the David Payne-trained colt Toulouse (Lope De Vega) looked suited to further, running on solidly from last place in the seven-horse field for a close-up third, also on debut.
Toulouse returned particularly good closing sectionals, with his last 1000 metres 56.75, last 800 metres in 45.85, last 600 metres in 34.53 with his final 400 metres in 23.28.
In the ATC Cup (Listed, 2000m) the Newcastle Cup (Gr 3, 2300m) winner Broadside (Raise The Flag), who was having his first start since fifth in The Metropolitan (Gr 1, 2400m) in September, scored an impressive first up win, scoring by two lengths in a very solid performance.
Racing on a downgraded Soft 6 track, Broadside was timed to run his final 1000 metres in 1:00.74, last 800 metres in 48.01, last 600 metres in 35.78 with his final 400 metres in 23.82 and looks set for a very good preparation.
In the Starlight Stakes (Listed, 1100m) and now racing on a track further downgraded to Heavy 8, the Bjorn Baker-trained mare Egyptian Symbol (Stratum) again raced well fresh and came off a quick tempo to score an impressive late-closing win.
Having her first start since June, she settled just beyond midfield and wide with cover before sprinting quickly over the closing stages to score a comfortable win by just over a length.
Egyptian Symbol produced impressive closing sectionals in the conditions with her final 1000 metres in 56.83, last 800 metres in 46.08, last 600 metres in 34.91 with her final 400 metres in 23.43.
A quality mare, Egyptian Symbol has now won six races (two at stakes level) of twenty starts with eight placings.
The favourite in the race Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit) also went well, although he tired over the latter stages for sixth, as he was trapped very wide trip throughout from a difficult barrier (11) during a strong mid-race tempo where he clocked a fast 800 metres in 44.82 (from the 1000 metres to the 200 metres).
His effort in holding on for sixth was far better than his finishing position may have indicated.