** Australian gold stocks .AXGD slip as much as 3.5% to 9,831.7, their biggest intraday drop since February 17

** Bullion prices tumble as profit-taking countered support from safe-haven demand fuelled by geopolitical uncertainty GOL/

** Spot gold XAU= was down 0.8% at $2,887.67 an ounce, as of 1740 GMT

** Locally gold miner Northern Star Resources NST.AX falls 1.5% and Evolution Mining EVN.AX down 2.1%

** Sub-index has gained 16.7% so far this year, including session's moves

(Reporting by Kumar Tanishk in Bengaluru)

((Tanishk.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com; X: @thatstanishk;))