Speculation over the future of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact ended on Thursday [Oct 12] when it was announced that the unbeaten three-year-old has been retired to stud after a meteoric six-race career.
World #2 behind Japanese superstar Equinox on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, Ace Impact will stand at the Haras de Beaumont in Normandy for the 2024 covering season.
The brilliant son of Cracksman is retired with a career record of six wins from six starts for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who sourced the colt for just €75,000 at the Arcana Deauville August yearling sale in 2021.
Owned in partnership by Serge Stempniak and the Chehboub family’s Gousserie Racing, Ace Impact did not appear on the racecourse until making his debut with victory in a minor conditions event on the all-weather at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January.
Blessed with a superb turn of foot, he shot up the ranks before landing the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in race record time at Chantilly in June before a summer break.
Returning in August for a workmanlike success in his G2 Arc prep, Ace Impact went on to an electrifying victory over Westover – also retired after a career-ending injury – in the Qatar-sponsored showpiece at ParisLongchamp, where he came with a late charge to score by a length and three-quarters under Cristian Demuro.
Although the Breeders’ Cup was ruled out, a possible tilt at the Japan Cup was mooted by connections before the decision was taken to retire him to stud.
“The way he races and his acceleration is very rare in a racehorse,” said Rouget, speaking to Sporting Life.
“Very few racehorses are able to accelerate like that and for me Zarkava was a super champion and maybe had the superior acceleration, but he is not far from that,” added the trainer, set to win the French title for the fifth time.
“He gave me a great day when winning the Arc and also the Prix du Jockey Club and all the races were delicious. We started very slowly and then progressed to Listed, Group 1 and Group 2 and then another Group 1.
“My memory of him will be he is he is not impressive in the morning, but when racing, he is another horse with very strong acceleration. In three steps, the race is over.”
Speaking to the Racing Post’s French correspondent Scott Burton, Demuro described Ace Impact as “an extraterrestrial”.
He added: “You only see a horse of this quality once every five or ten years. To win the Arc as a three-year-old with such acceleration and to remain unbeaten is extraordinary.
"His acceleration is explosive and very few horses are able to really stretch out like he does.”
• Visit the Haras de Beaumont website
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