A storm is coming for Grantham in the Esperance Cup

Citino has long been aimed at the Esperance Cup, but Stormageddon’s unexpected rise to staying races has been a major boost for trainer Michael Grantham.

Despite a taxing campaign that began in August, Stormageddon’s last-start 2000m victory at Pinjarra demonstrated why he’s now a leading Esperance Cup contender.

After enduring a tough stretch of near misses in staying events, the four-year-old finally broke through in dominant fashion, storming home under Clint Johnston-Porter’s hands-and-heels ride to notch his first win beyond 1400m.

Grantham admitted that he never envisioned Stormageddon as a stayer.

“I honestly thought he’d just be a short-course horse, 1100m to 1400m,” Grantham told Tabradio.

“He used to overdo things and race too keenly.

“But racing has really settled him down. He’s been in work for 286 days now.

“He lives in the paddock all day and comes in at night.

“He’s so relaxed, I don’t even need to put a head collar on him—he just walks himself in when I open the gate.

“I never thought he’d stay, but he’s thriving and in great form.”

While Stormageddon put his staying ability on full display, stablemate Citino ran 10th in the same race, but Grantham remains confident in his Esperance Cup prospects.

“This race has been his main target for a long time,” Grantham said.

“He hasn’t quite hit form, but I’ve made a few changes at home.

“I’m trying to get him a bit fresher, and we’ll see how he goes.”

Clint Johnston-Porter retains the ride on Stormageddon but faces a tricky draw from barrier 17.

His younger brother, Zephen Johnston-Porter, has drawn the inside gate aboard Citino.

Grantham’s stable was in red-hot form last week, notching six winners, highlighted by Antique Miss’ Listed success in the Detonator Stakes (1800m).

The Domesday mare, already a Group 3 winner in the La Trice Classic (1800m), will now be aimed at the Bunbury Cup (2000m).

On a disappointing note, promising three-year-old Olympic Park suffered a pelvic injury in last Saturday’s Challenge Stakes (1500m) and will be sidelined indefinitely.