In-form Monsieur Gustave’s will need to carry the second highest winning weight in the Lough Neagh Stakes if he is to take his fifth straight stakes race at Doomben.
Monsieur Gustave has 59.5 kg in Saturday’s Listed Lough Neagh (1350m) which puts him with some elite gallopers who have won the race.
The Lough Neagh dates back 60 years under the guise of various names and has been won by some outstanding horses.
The multiple Group One winner Takeover Target set the weight carrying record with 60.5kg when he won in 2005.
Fontelina, a multiple Group winner, had 58.5kg when he won two years ago and Diamond Dane, whose best effort was a second in a Stradbroke Handicap, also had 58.5kg when he won in 2002.
The champion Doomben galloper Chief De Beers carried 58kg when he took the Lough Neagh in 1996.
Monsieur Gustave has won stakes races at his past four starts – the Eye Liner Stakes, Glasshouse Stakes, Keith Noud Stakes and George Moore Stakes.
The win in the George Moore put him in line for the $400,000 bonus for any horse which can win three feature sprint races during the summer.
Most Important took the bonus last year when he carried 54kg, 56kg and 58kg respectively in the George Moore, Lough Neagh and Buffering Quality.
Monsieur Gustave carried 58kg in the George Moore but trainer Darryl Hansen isn’t all that worried about the extra 1.5 kg on Saturday.
“He is a big horse and handles big weights. He also has barrier nine but he always rolls forward to make his own luck,” he said.
The gelding is now one of the highest rated horses in Queensland on 106.
Hansen said Monsieur Gustave was paying for his consistency at the weights but it was to be expected.
Monsieur Gustave is expected to press on to the Magic Millions Cup after the Buffering Quality.
