** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise as much as 1.5% to 16,239.20, a record high
** Up nearly 24% in September so far
** Sub-index set for best month since February 2016 as gold prices hit record high on U.S. rate cut hopes and fears of a government shutdown GOL/
** Regis Resources RRL.AX rises as much as 3.5% to A$6.240, its highest since July 2019
** Northern Star Resources NST.AX advances 2.3%
** YTD, AXGD up 91.2% vs miners' .AXMM 23.4% gain vs benchmark's .AXJO 8.9% rise
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))