** Australian gold stocks .AXGD rise as much as 0.9% to hit a record high

** Bullion prices rose overnight to trade near record highs, buoyed by U.S. interest rate-cut bets and a softer dollar GOL/

** AXGD on track for a third consecutive session of gains

** Gold miner Evolution Mining EVN.AX gains as much as 1.4%, hitting its highest level since June 16

** AXGD has gained more than 60% so far this year

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru)

((Rajasik.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com))