Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen is looking ahead to next January’s lucrative Magic Millions Cup 2018 with his class sprinter Monsieur Gustave following an all-the-way black-type win at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen has the 2018 Magic Millions Cup on the agenda for his in-form sprinter Monsieur Gustave. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The five-year-old Al Maher gelding raced first-up in the midweek feature and was dominant racing away with a three length victory over Upstart Pride in the Listed $100,000 Keith Noud Quality Handicap (1200m).

Relishing the apprentice claim of Tiffani Brooker, Monsieur Gustave came down from his allocated 57kg to just 51kg and that proved a significant advantage in the race that had been rescheduled after last Saturday’s washout.

“I think it was a bit of a favour getting washed out Saturday, the extra few days from his trial has done him the world of good,” Hansen told Sky Racing.

The Keith Noud Quality results saw Hansen’s flyer enjoy a third black-type win in succession following narrow victories in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at his home track during the winter.

Hansen has a high opinion of the now seven-time winner and is keen to chase the lucrative Queensland Summer Racing Carnival riches coming up over the next couple of months.

A likely next-up assignment for Monsieur Gustave, who will be out to add to an imposing second-up record that currently stands at three wins and a third from four starts, is the Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben Racecourse on December 2.

Tony Gollan prepared last year’s George Moore Stakes winner Most Important (2016) who backed-up from a third in the Keith Noud Quality and went on to salute in back-to-back Brisbane stakes races later that December.

On Wednesday Monsieur Gustave defeated Most Important in the Keith Noud with the latter struggling under 59kg to run four and a quarter lengths back sixth.

Both gallopers also contested the Restricted $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast during this year’s Magic Millions Racing Carnival.

Monsieur Gustave only managed to run just under four lengths back 13^th behind the winner Testashadow, while Most Important crossed fourth only three-quarters of a length beaten in a blanket finish.

The Magic Millions Cup is again on the agenda for Monsieur Gustave this coming summer and Hansen is confident of an improved run on last season.

“We will go to all the good [Queensland summer] races on our way to the Magic Millions Cup,” he confirmed.

“This horse was a little bit stirry early on but he has settled into our stable well.”

Futures Magic Millions Cup betting at bookies around the country list Monsieur Gustave as one of the single-figure hopes following the ultra-consistent Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Snitzel four-year-old Arbeitsam and Darren Weir’s class veteran Lucky Hussler.

To follow the summer racing season of Monsieur Gustave and for all the best early Magic Millions Racing odds, head to Ladbrokes.com.au.