Australia: French Emperor faces tougher while shooting for fourth straight win

French Emperor, the 4-year-old gelding, has reeled off three consecutive wins in the last two months to shoot through the lower ranks of Australia’s handicap system.

How far French Emperor can progress in better handicap races in the short-term future may become clearer after the Wodonga Gold Cup at Wodonga Racecourse on Thursday evening across American time zones.

French Emperor’s current winning streak includes a smart win in a one-mile handicap at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 5, the final day of that track’s Melbourne Cup carnival.

The Wodonga Gold Cup, run at about a mile, is the countryside venue’s leading annual race and drew a maximum field of 14 with three runners on the also-eligible list.

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French Emperor, who will be ridden by Teo Nugent, has won at distances ranging from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles in his current winning streak. In each race, French Emperor closed from off the pace under jockey Jamie Kah.

Kah, one of Australia’s leaders, is not riding on Friday.

French Emperor, who will carry 120 pounds, drew post 12, which may not be a problem considering his patient style. He will be joined toward the back of the field by Hi Stranger and Lucky Decision.

Hi Stranger, who will carry top weight of 132 pounds, is winless in 16 starts since the listed Kilmore Cup at a mile last November. Hi Stranger was third in the Seymour Cup at a mile at Bendigo Racecourse on Oct. 2, losing by slightly more than a half-length. Hi Stranger was ninth of 10 after a troubled start in the listed Security Stakes going six furlongs at Flemington on Nov. 1.

Lucky Decision tends to run closer to the pace than French Emperor, a style that led to a third in the Donald Cup at a mile at Donald Racecourse on Nov. 13. Lucky Decision, who carries 122.3 pounds, was a winner as recently as September in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne.

Wodonga has a nine-race program beginning at 8:40 p.m. Eastern or 5:40 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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