Winning Return for Quantico in G3 Southern Cross

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 11

First up from a lengthy spell, the John O’Shea trained I Am Invincible gelding Quantico rewarded connections for their patience when scoring a determined win in the Group III ATC Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Quantico returns with a win - image Steve Hart

Last seen when unplaced in the Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap last year, Quantico has overcome a series of niggling issues and looked to be working back to form in recent barrier trials.

He settled back in the field for Kerrin McEvoy and finished off with a well-timed run to beat Titanium Power by a neck on the line to claim his second stakes win.

“It’s really rewarding for everyone associated with the horse,” said John O’Shea.

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“The vets, Harry Mitchell at Yarraman Park, the young guy that looks after our horses at the beach, and my staff here… it’s been a really big achievement from a good team and they should all pat themselves on the back.

“He was rusty today and has enormous improvement to come. I believe he has a really good race in him as he gets some more miles under his belt.”

Quantico was a $1,050,000 Inglis Easter yearling.

A $1,050,000 Inglis Easter  purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for China Horse Club / John O'Shea Racing / Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA), Quantico runs for a syndicate that also includes his co-breeders Yarraman Park and Jason Abrahams.

The six year-old gelding has seven wins and a second from 12 starts and prizemoney just shy of $400,000 and is the best of two winners from stakes-winning General Nediym mare Hoss Amor, whose yearling colt by Hellbent sold for $300,000 at Magic Millions this year to Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock.

Hoss Amor had a filly by Bivouac last spring and is now back in foal to I Am Invincible.

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Race Result - Davali T'breds Southern Cross Gr3 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.57
1
Quantico
- 6g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Hoss Amor (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
I Am Invincible
2
0.2
Titanium Power
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Dalkeith (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
So You Think
3
0.3
Gravina
- 5g Sebring (AUS) x Metastasio (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
Sebring
4
0.5
Mr Mozart
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Euro Angel (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J R Collett 59
5
0.8
Hard Empire
- 9g Hard Spun (USA) x Last Quill (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: Rachel King 59
6
1.2
Espiona
- 4m Extreme Choice (AUS) x Dahooil (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: W Pike 53
7
2.0
Testator Silens
- 5g Star Witness (AUS) x So Detached (AUS) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: Luke Clarke Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
8
2.5
Stampe
- 6g Whittington (AUS) x Envelope (AUS) (Monashee Mountain (USA))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Brock Ryan 54.5
9
3.4
Ranch Hand
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Mezulla (NZ) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Regan Bayliss 53
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