€5m Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1): Ace Impact blasts the field!

Sunday, October 1, 2023, Hippodrome ParisLongchamp (Paris) – Betting favourite in the €5m Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), Ace Impact (Cracksman), enjoyed an ideal run behind Place du Carrousel (Lope de Vega) and Fantastic Moon (Sea The Moon), outside the field. However, the representative of Serge Stempniak and the Chehboub family won in such a manner that it's hard to see how he could have been beaten here. Winner of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) and then the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr2), nervous all the way to the canter, Ace Impact swept past the leaders halfway down the straight at such speed that no rival could even attempt to resist him. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Cristian Demuro, he crossed the finishing line nearly two lengths ahead of his elder Westover (Frankel), who also enjoyed an ideal run behind the leading pack that included Mr Hollywood (Iquitos), Bay Bridge (New Bay), and Hukum (Sea the Stars). Coming from the rear, Onesto (Frankel) finished strongly to claim third place by a short head.

The Japanese contender, Through Seven Seas (Dream Journey), made a fine dash in the straight to claim fourth place at a good length, ahead of the St. Leger winner at Doncaster, Continuous (Heart’s Cry)—both horses having been bred in Japan.

Ace Impact, for his part, made his debut at Cagnes-sur-Mer this winter, where he triumphed over 1 mile and 2 furlongs on the all-weather track before confirming his form on the turf at Bordeaux. He subsequently won at Chantilly in the Prix de Suresnes (L), followed by setting a record time in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1).

Born in Ireland but bred in France by Mrs Waltraut Spanner, Ace Impact was purchased for €75,000 at the Deauville yearling sales, where he was consigned by Élise Drouet's Domaine de l'Étang. His sister by Nathaniel, named Adlon Rose and a race winner, was sold for €10,000 in December 2021 at Deauville, out of training to join Écurie Un Crin d'Or. His brother by Gleneagles was born in 2021 and is in training with Jean-Claude Rouget under the colors of Mrs Waltraut Spanner.