Ace Impact wins 2023 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Cristian Demuro, who both tasted Arc success for the first time with the four-year-old Sottsass three years ago, the son of Cracksman made it a super six from six racecourse appearances with a scintillating success.

Trying the 12-furlong trip for the very first time, Ace Impact was let loose down the home straight by a confident-looking Demuro and flew home to beat the Ralph Beckett-trained 11/2 shot Westover and Onesto at 50/1.

A keen-going Bay Bridge found himself in front through the early stages, soon tracked by Mr Hollywood, who went on after a couple of furlongs, closely followed by Jim Crowley and Hukum who started brightly and got across from stall 14 to track the pace.

Simca Mille sat handily as well, while Rob Hornby kept to a ground-saving trip on the inside rail, Westover settling nicely in fifth or sixth through the first half of the race.

Ace Impact, who was more than a little worked up in the preliminaries, was switched off with just a couple or rivals behind him on his first go at the distance, while the St Leger winner Continuous was also closer to the rear of the field than the front.

Approaching the home turn, Demuro started to pick off a few rivals as Hukum came under the pump up front. Westover was manoeuvred out with a couple of furlongs to travel and picked up well to join Hukum, who started to weaken.

With 200 metres to go Ace Impact was given licence and responded in style, the Prix du Jockey Club winner showing his trademark turn of foot towards the centre of the track.

He was a length to the good 100m from the line and while Westover boxed on bravely and outsider Onesto came from rear to grab third, with Japanese mare Through Seven Seas (13/2) also running on for fourth, the bird had flown and Demuro had time to salute to the raucous crowd as his mount crossed the line with a couple of lengths to spare.

Betfair and Paddy Power cut the brilliant winner to 3/1 from 5/1 for the QIPCO British Champions Stakes, while halving Westover's price from 8/1 to 4s for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

'Sensitive' star shines on big day

It was put to Rouget in the aftermath that the majority of those in attendance were left speechless, but he said: “Actually, I more or less expected to see that turn of foot and that acceleration.

“He wasn’t able to show it at Cagnes-Sur-Mer or Bordeaux, but even after a slow beginning in the Prix du Jockey Club he literally flew home.

“At Deauville he wasn’t ready and I know people we were saying he had not run at Longchamp before, but I thought he would be able to deploy that acceleration, especially on the ground we have today.

“My last reflection before the start of the race was to say to myself, ‘it’s too good to be true’, but it was not too good, it was true!

"He’s a bit like a child, an adolescent who needs to be looked after and reassured constantly. If he was able to talk, he would tell you he’s a very sensitive being.

“I knew the horse was in stronger shape than he was for the Prix du Jockey Club, which is normal as he’s more mature now. He was in marvellous shape before the race.

“The best acceleration I’ve ever seen is Zarkava and this horse is not far off. Sottsass was a very good horse and a very strong horse, but he was not the same type of horse. He was an extraordinary horse, but this one has the power of acceleration of one of the top horses in the world.”

Sheer delight for Demuro

Demuro was able to begin celebrating before passing the post in front, such was the authority with which Ace Impact won, before performing a Frankie Dettori-like flying dismount on returning to the winner’s enclosure.

He said: “I knew it was the last day (at Longchamp) for Frankie, so I did it for him!”

Of Ace Impact, he added: “I knew when I was going to push the button he was going to accelerate, and that is what he did.

“It’s amazing to win the Arc for the second time with an amazing horse. He has a wonderful turn of foot. He’s just a champion. I started screaming 200 metres from the post because I saw I was going to win, so I started screaming with the horse."

Where next for Rouget's Ace?

What the future holds for Ace Impact remains undecided, with various possibilities on the table.

He could be retired to stud with an unbeaten record, he could have a crack at the Japan Cup before the year is out and he could even be back next season, but connections are understandably keen to let the dust settle before committing to anything.

Pauline Chehboub, representing part owners Gousserie Racing, said: “It was a dream to be able to run the horse against all those champions in that race today.

“Obviously we have to take some time and see how the horse is after his race and then discuss it with the whole team, to see what is next.

“The Japan Cup is one of the greatest races on the whole planet, so we we will see. It’s not a no, but we don’t know about the future."

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