Australia: Levi's Storm has home-track edge at Tamworth

Levi’s Storm is trained by Cody Morgan, who is based at Tamworth Racecourse in the Australian countryside between Brisbane and Sydney.

Levi’s Storm has won 2 of 4 starts, with both wins at Tamworth in March and May. With the home track advantage for daily training and in recent races, Levi’s Storm is expected to continue the success when he starts in a seven-furlong handicap on Friday.

Levi’s Storm was the 4-5 favorite in early betting on Wednesday.

This is a new distance for Levi’s Storm. His wins earlier this year were at six furlongs, both accomplished as the pacesetter. Jackson Searle rode Levi’s Storm to a win on May 17 in the 3-year-old gelding’s last start and has the mount on Friday.

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Levi’s Storm is part of a field of 14 in the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:15 p.m., Eastern, or 7:15 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The seventh race is part of a late pick three that has two heavy favorites. In the sixth race, Anethole is favored in a six-furlong handicap. The final race, a five-furlong handicap, drew a field of 14 and is more competitive.

If Levi’s Storm falters, Charvet and Oakfield Prince are two logical candidates.

Charvet, a closer, won consecutive starts in handicaps at 5 1/2 furlongs at Scone Racecourse on May 14 and at 6 1/4 furlongs at Gunnison Racecourse on May 30 as the favorite before finishing ninth of 16 in a tougher handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on June 12.

Oakfield Prince has won 2 of 4 starts since the beginning of his career in January. Oakfield Prince won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie on May 31, closing from fourth in a field of 12. He will pose a late threat to Levi’s Storm if the pacesetter faces an early test.