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By Ray Hickson

Quantico entered 2022 as one of John O’Shea’s most promising sprinters, even spoken of as a potential Everest contender that year, after he charged through the grades in the preceding spring.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Steve Hart)

But the talented sprinter will start 2023 in the Group 3 $200,000 Davali Thoroughbreds Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) having raced just once in the last 12 months after being sidelined following a midfield finish in the Newmarket Handicap last March.

Ironically, the Southern Cross was meant to be his kick off point a year ago but he was cast in his box a couple of days prior and had to be scratched.

O’Shea said patience has been paramount and while the gelding, $4.20 with TAB on Wednesday, will lack that hard race fitness the trainer wants to see a positive return.

“He just had a slight injury and we have him an extended period to make sure it’s fine,’’ O’Shea said.

“With the help of the people at Yarraman Park I reckon we’ve all got together and done a good job to get him back to the races.

“He’s obviously a bit ring rusty but we’ve endeavoured to give him a day at the races and a few trials to make sure he’s up to the mark.”

With six wins from his first 10 starts the sky was the limit for Quantico, prior to his Newmarket run and subsequent injury, and while naturally a little guarded until the gelding makes his return O’Shea is quietly confident some good races can still be in his future.

Of course wet tracks aren’t his favourite thing but despite some midweek showers that shouldn’t be an issue on Saturday.

“I don’t think they lose their ability,’’ he said.

“He’s now six years of age and had a few injuries through his career and it’s just a matter of getting him back in the game.

“We’ll keep him to that Group 2 or Group 3 level and see what it develops into and make an assessment after two or three runs about what we do.”

A return to Randwick has O’Shea buoyant about the chances of Pizarro in the Wild Oaks Sprint (1300m) though he qualifies that by saying it won’t be an easy contest.

The emerging gelding was thrown in the deep end in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago and more than floated as he finished fifth behind Mariamia.

“He just got behind a slow horse at the half mile and it just impeded his progress at about the 600m and Brenton (Avdulla) thought he’d have run a clear second if he’d have been able to get going when he wanted,’’ he said.

“He’s a much better horse at Randwick, always has been, and we’re looking forward to getting him back to his favourite track.

“We’ll give some consideration to what we do beyond Saturday so hopefully he can put his hand up and give an indication that he is going to compete at that level.”

Quantico runs third in a Rosehill trial on January 12

As far as Saltaire’s chances go in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m), O’Shea said there’s no over-reaction to drawing 17 with the filly and things will be kept uncomplicated.

Saltaire won the Inglis Nursery (1000m) two months ago defeating many of her rivals in Saturday’s race including Facile and Blanc De Blanc.

“She’s done really well, she’s there to run well but she does have good improvement going forward,’’ he said.

“I think it’s pretty easy what we do, just follow the Freedman horse (Blanc De Blanc) and it’ll get us to where we need to go.”

John O'Shea on Café Millennium (race 1): “He’s only had one soft trial but we think he is going well and looking forward to getting him started and giving him a good hitout.”

Athabascan (race 4): “He’s appreciated the time to settle here in the sense he’s strengthened up significantly. We’re happy with what he’s got to offer and I think he’s going along nicely. Benoit (De La Sayette) is well suited to that horse. He’s finding his feet, he’s a young fellow we think highly of so we’ll give him a few opportunities and hopefully he learns his craft while he’s here and gives consideration to coming back later in the season.”

Meanwhile, O’Shea said star sprinter Lost And Running is set to get his autumn campaign underway with a trial on February 20.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting