PLANS to resurrect the racing career of star pacer Gedlee have been aborted after the gelding’s injured leg failed to handle a return to light training.
Gedlee hasn’t raced since damaging a tendon almost 15 months ago and it is the same tendon that has not stood up to a light training regime.
At first connections were confident the time off and special methods of treatment from the USA had been successful.
But after only eight weeks of light conditioning work swelling appeared around the injured area of Gedlee’s off-side foreleg.
Trainer Phil Rawnsley loaded Gedlee onto a float for a trip to Launceston where veterinarian Michael Morris inspected the leg and without another scan recommended the horse be retired.
Gedlee is owned by the trainer’s brother Gerald Rawnsley and was leased by the trainer’s son Sam.
The gelding won 10 of his 26 starts for just over $94,000 in stakes and most of that was accrued in a 10-month period with the gelding going from a C0 in February 2010 to being favourite in the 2010 Group 1 Tasmania Cup in Hobart in December.
Listen to what trainer Phil Rawnsley had to say about Gedlee – click here.