Inquiry, a 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, has been a well-traveled sort since his career debut in October 2016 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. In his 19-race career, Inquiry has run at 14 tracks for five trainers. Inquiry seems to have found a home with trainer Jared Wehlow. Since being transferred to Wehlow’s stable early this year, Inquiry has won four consecutive races, a winning streak that could easily be extended when he starts for the first time at Gold Coast Racecourse in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on Friday. Inquiry, a confirmed front-runner, will face a class test. He will carry 121 pounds, well below starting topweight Alward at 132 in a field of nine. Through the winning streak, Inquiry has been favored in each race, which have ranged in distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to seven furlongs. He won at Mackay Racecourse on March 17, Townsville on March 28, Rockhampton on April 14, and back at Mackay on April 28. While Inquiry is facing a tougher field than his recent starts, Alward is getting much needed class relief at a shorter distance. A 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding, Alward was campaigned in listed and Group 3 stakes at 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles in December and January in Australia, with a sixth-place finish in the Christmas Cup his best result in that span. :: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing A four-month layoff ensued, leading to a sensible comeback in Friday’s race. A winner of 8 of 42 starts for trainer Chris Waller, Alward has one win in 17 stakes in Australia, the listed ATC Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens last November. Friday’s race is his first start in a race shorter than a mile since a third in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs in February 2018. Friday’s handicap is part of a nine-race program at Gold Coast, which begins at 10 p.m. Eastern, or 7 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. Of the other runners, Freddie Fox Trot has shown an affinity for Gold Coast Racecourse. Freddie Fox Trot, who will carry 131 pounds, is trained by Les Kelly, who is based at Gold Coast. Freddie Fox Trot has won 5 of 11 starts at Gold Coast, including a six-furlong handicap April 24 in which he raced near the front throughout.