Karaka Graduate Impel (NZ) Shines in Gold Vase

Impel (NZ) (Gonski), who fetched a combined total of only $25,000 in two trips through the Karaka sale ring, lifted his prize-money earnings to almost 10 times that mark with a dominant win in Sunday’s Rgt150,000 Listed Perak Gold Vase (1100m). This brings his career earnings to NZ$239,941 (Rgt672,000) across his racing career covering New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Ridden by Jose de Souza for trainer Frank Maynard, Impel was prominent throughout the sprint feature and asserted his superiority down the straight, kicking clear in the last 200 metres to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

The win was Impel’s third in a row and his ninth overall from 22 career starts. It was his second black-type success, having claimed the Listed Tunku Gold Cup (1200m) in February. His prize-money earnings are now the equivalent of NZ$239,941.

Impel was bred by Ms M M J Watson and is by the speedy Australian sire Gonski (Danehill) out of the winning Desert Sun mare Solaris (NZ).

Impel was offered as a weanling by Westbury Stud at the 2010 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, selling to the Eqwine Farm Partnership for $10,000.

The following year he returned for the Festival Sale and was purchased by Waiuku trainer Moira Murdoch for $15,000. Impel raced seven times for Murdoch before heading offshore, winning twice, placing twice and finishing fourth behind Habibi (NZ) (Ekraar) in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas (1600m).