The unbeaten Ace Impact lived up to his name when coming with a blistering late run to ‘trump’ his rivals in the 2023 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but what lies ahead for the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 3 year-old?
Connections Undecided On Ace Impact’s Future
12 months ago we saw the Frankel-filly Alpinista win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and in 2023 racegoers witnessed another member of the family ACE IMPACT win Europe’s richest flat race.
Bring fathered by Cracksman, then Frankel is Ace Impact’s grandsire being which is sure to add further interest to both at stud, and also means the unbeaten former Henry Cecil-trained superstar has now been responsible for the last two Arc winners.
Cracksman, who won 8 of his 11 starts when trained by John Gosden, stands for £17,500 at the Dalham Hall Stud, while his sire – the mighty Frankel – commands a cool £275,000 at the Banstead Manor Stud.
That win was Ace Impact’s first try at 1m4f and also his debut run at Longchamp (watch below) – we think it’s fair to say neither the track or the new trip caused this unbeaten colt any issues. With some even saying there could be more to come if staying on in training and running again over this distance.
However, soon after his Arc win, connections were quick to report that Ace Impact’s future plans are undecided at this stage.
Of course, horse racing fans around the world would love to see him race on as a 4 year-old – just like Cracksman and Frankel did – but being a colt, the lure of a lucrative stud career for connections will also be on their minds.
Arc Win Made It 6-From-6 For Ace Impact
The 2023 Arc win was Ace Impact’s six straight success and he’s yet to taste defeat so is certainly following in his grandfather’s (Frankel) hoofprints, who won ALL 14 of his career starts.
Prior to his Longchamp success Ace Impact also won this year’s French Derby at Chantilly back in June.
The win also provided French trainer J-C Rouget with his second Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe since 2020, having also won the prize with Sottsass and who Italian jockey Cristian Demuro also partnered.
If connections do decide against retiring him, then another tilt at the Arc in 2024 would certainly be on the cards, where the best UK horse racing betting sites make him a 5/1 shot.
The last ‘back-to-back’ Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner was the classy mare Enable, who won the race in 2017 and 2018 for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori.
While, prior to that, Treve did the double in 2013 and 2014 to show that repeat Arc winners in recent times are not as uncommon as some might think, and this may give Ace Impact’s owners some food for thought.
Ace Impact Holds An Entry For Ascot Champion Stakes This Month
There might be some glimmer of hope for horse racing fans though as Ace Impact does will have an entry left this season – in the Ascot Champion Stakes on Saturday October 21st.
Against him running would be the fact there is only 20 days between this and the Arc, but should he head to the Berkshire track later this month, then racegoers could be treated with a potential clash with another Gousserie Racing-owned superstar in the making – Horizon Dore, who also won at Longchamp at the weekend – when taking the Group 2 Prix Dollar on Saturday
That said, the best UK horse racing betting sites are of a mixed opinion if Ace Impact will run in the Champion Stakes, with Bet365 as big as 13/2 and Boylesports as low as 5/2.
Ace Impact Career In Numbers
- Age: 3
- Runs: 6
- Wins: 6
- Prize Money: £3,536,372
WATCH: Ace Impact Winning The 2023 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
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