Trainer Darryl Hansen will be looking for a home town victory with Eye Liner Stakes winner Monsieur Gustave in the Listed $175,000 HMR Projects Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 1.
Trainer Darryl Hansen, above on left, will run Eye Liner Stakes winner Monsieur Gustave in the Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Monsieur Gustave scored an upset win in the Listed $175,000 City Of Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich last Saturday with leading apprentice Tiffani Brooker getting the $17 chance home by a nose.
The Sunshine Coast trained four year old was able to hold off the fast finishing In His Stride ($18) to get the judge’s decision by a nose with the Darren Beadman trained Federal ($10) also close up in third spot.
The Team Snowden trained Acatour was sent out as the $6.50 favourite and ran home strongly for fifth after having a checked run in the straight.
“He’ll go on to the Glasshouse in two weeks now,” Hansen said.
“I always wanted to run in the Eye Liner and then the Glasshouse at Caloundra, but I was a bit worried about him getting a run.
“Fortunately he scraped into the field and hopefully that will ensure he gets a run in the Glasshouse now.”
Hansen had always had faith in Monsieur Gustave’s ability but had always run into problems at the back end of his preparations.
“He’s a great horse but he’s had a few problems which we’ve finally sorted out,” Hansen said.
“He’s always shown the ability, but he kept going shin sore in one leg.
“That’s why for a long time we’ve had to give him these short campaigns.
“We’d get three good runs out of him and then he’d go sore. It’s been a big problem, but I’m hoping now he’s a bit older he’s grown out of it.”
Monsieur Gustave is now the winner of five of his fourteen race starts with his best winning effort prior to his Eye Liner Stakes victory being in a BenchMark 80 Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm in September last year.
Acatour was the only three year old in the Eye Liner Stakes and will now take on his own age group in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on the same day as the Glasshouse Handicap.
