Australia: Vungers best chance is to seize the lead in the Wodonga Cup

The veteran gelding Vungers is a cut below the group-level runners in Australia, which often leads to appearances in handicap cup races at smaller venues throughout the state of Victoria.

Vungers was fourth in the restricted Melbourne Cup Carnival County Final at a mile at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 5, beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the $368,000 race, and rebounded to win the Donald Cup at about a mile at Donald Racecourse on Nov. 15.

The 7-year-old Australian-bred gelding will have his final start of the month in Friday’s $73,600 Wodonga Cup at about a mile at Wodonga Racecourse about three hours from Melbourne.

Vungers, trained by Brendon Hearps, was the 7-5 favorite as of Wednesday in a field of 11. The distance is a good fit for Vungers, who tends to run near the front. The victory in the Donald Cup ended a five-race losing streak that began in March.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Vungers is the only horse to win this year for Hearps, who has a tiny stable and has started only four separate horses since the start of 2019.

The Wodonga Cup field includes a few runners who could challenge Vungers for the lead, notably Bezos and Coming Around.

Bezos won a one-mile handicap at Wagga Wagga on Oct. 17, but was ninth of 15 in a handicap at a mile at Canberra on Nov. 15, setting the pace before fading in the stretch.

Coming Around was ninth against a much tougher field in a handicap at seven furlongs at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 3, the undercard of the Melbourne Cup program.

If Vungers can shake loose of those runners, he could be well positioned for his fourth career win at about a mile in his 11th start at the distance.

The Wodonga Cup program begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, or 5:30 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday.