One To Watch - Echuca

Mark Smith - Sunday June 16

One of just 10 named foals from the first crop of the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House (GB), the lightly raced 4yo gelding Impi made plenty sit up and notice when winning a maiden over 1675 metres at Bunbury by six and a quarter lengths on debut and the chorus grew louder when he backed that up with a six-length romp over a mile at Echuca on Sunday.

The dynamic duo of trainer Pat Carey and owner/breeder Trevor Delroy have enjoyed Group 1 success with Gondokoro, Ethiopia and Cedarberg and they look likely to have plenty of fun with Impi who was transferred to Carey after making his debut for Justin Warwick.

"He put then away nicely today, he's a good scopey, athletic horse and the future's bright for this horse, that's for sure, Carey told racing.com.

"It's his first run for three months at a mile and he kept going. He handled the ground, which we suspected he would.

"The interesting thing is that this is the third one we've had by Crowded House (GB). He was a really high-class horse and the ones we have had, Algiers, Alexandria and now this horse, they can all gallop.

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"I think if anyone is sitting on the couch today and want's a bit of fun go and look at his (Crowded House) run in the (Gr1) Racing Post Trophy because it was an outstanding win and I think Trevor has a nice little stallion on his hands.

"I won't make too many decisions (on Impi's immediate future) until I talk to Trevor, he's the captain of the ship, we will try and move him through his ratings the best we can to get his mark up a bit so if he is to compete at a better level he will have the right rating."

After beginning his stud career in NSW, Crowded House (GB) moved to Delroy's Farm at Lancefield in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria but in six seasons his biggest crop has been 22 live foals, while last year he covered nine mares all owned by Delroy.

Impi's dam Umfolosi (Tale Of The Cat) has been a regular visitor to Crowded House. She was the only foal of the Rhythm (USA) mare Muto Princess whose dam Sparkle 'n Shine (Sir Tristram) is a sister to dual Group 1 winner Tristalove and a three-quarter sister to Don Eduardo, Peruzzi and Kaapstad, out of Eight Carat's Group 1 winning daughter Diamond Lover.

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