Redessi's long haul

Co-trainer Richard Otto won't be rushing Redessi into the big time now that he's finally got the one-time problem child back in winning mode.

The way Redessi overpowered his opposition in the Fujifilm Whips 'N Spurs at Ellerslie yesterday, clocking a slick 1:22.29, you might have expected Otto to be looking at a race like the Easter Handicap for the imposing son of Redoute's Choice.

But Otto said it had been a long haul getting the $400,000 yearling to perform like he knew he could and he would very likely give him only one more start before turning him out for a spell.

"Next year he'll go to open company but this year was just about getting him back and showing him what he could do." Otto had big raps on Redessi after he won his debut at two and sent him to Australian trainer Peter Moody as a three-year-old.

But the horse flopped in two starts in Melbourne in February 2009, leaving Moody at a loss to explain his poor showings.

Moody "who really rated the horse" recommended Redessi be gelded but Otto said he didn't think that was the problem because when he brought him home he was still sick.

"His coat and everything was wrong. It took a long time to get him right. We played round with him for a long time and just rode him cold in his first few runs back to try to get him to enjoy racing again.

"He's a lovely horse with a bit of a future," Otto said.

- © Fairfax NZ News