Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 3 Davali Thoroughbreds Southern Cross Stakes won by Quantico at Randwick on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Quantico (J O'Shea/K McEvoy) - $8
2nd: Titanium Power (J Pride/T Clark) - $4.60
3rd: Gravina (J Cummings/J McDonald) - $4.60

Winning Time: 1:09.57 Last 600m: 34.58

Margins: Short Head x ½Neck

What a training performance from @JohnOSheaRacing to have Quantico win the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes off a long break, @KPMcEvoy doing a great job in the saddle. @Chinahorseclub pic.twitter.com/4CiYPpckpB

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 11, 2023

Winning Trainer: John O'Shea

On the efforts of his staff: "It's really rewarding for everyone associated with the horse. My staff here, it's just been a really big achievement from the team and they should all pat themselves on the back."

On coming back from injury: "He's come away with a little injury as a result of the wet tracks so we pulled up on him and took the liberty of giving him an extended break. He really enjoyed his time at the beach, he came to us in great order. Done a good foundation at Yarraman Park and then my staff here have worked tirelessly to make sure he maintained that fitness base and soundness."

On what's next: "I think he's got enormous improvement, he'd be very rusty today. A great Kerrin ride and to be fair down the side he was probably a little free just on the chewy a little bit more than he usually is. He'll derive a lot of benefit from that. He's got a really good race in him, that was a really good race today, but hopefully he's got a really good race in him as he gets some miles under his belt."

Winning Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

On not having a tough enough trial in the lead up: "I found myself burrowed away there behind a wall of ten furlong horses (in the trial). I looked at the calendar when I got back in the car and thought John's (trainer O'Shea) is not going to be too angry because we still have two weeks, we haven't got ten days, so it was a little bit extra to get a bit more work into him."

"But good to have him back because he showed a lot of promise early on, he had a little bit of an injury there. They've been patient and it's nice to see him come to the track and do this today."

On whether the race was run to suit: "Yeah, pretty much. I had a nice possie and I sort of ended up behind J Mac (rider of Gravina - third placegetter) and then getting into the clear and John said 'give him some room to roll and get going when you want to'."

"He timed his run well my fella and there's good improvement to come. Obviously after that long off so you can expect him to keep going in the right direction.

Beaten Jockeys:

Rachel King (Hard Empire): "Massive run. Just probably a bad gate beat us today. He's in super form." 

Jason Collett (Mr Mozart): "Start was very costly and then just buffeted in the straight. Again very costly."

James McDonald (Gravina): "Good solid run. He's in for a good prep."

Brock Ryan (Stampe): "He went good. Just a bit sharp for him at the 1200m."

Tim Clark (Titanium Power): "He was really brave. Thought he toughed it out really well."

Regan Bayliss (Ranch Hand): No comment

William Pike (Espiona): "She has run well. Wasn't beaten very far."

Tyler Schiller (Testator Silens): "He was a super run. Thought he was strong through the line. He will be very hard to beat in the Championship qualifier."