Ace Impact, ridden by Cristian Demuro and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp, giving Rouget and Demuro their second victory in four years. The 5-2 favourite overtook Westover, ridden by Rob Hornby, in the final stages of the race to win Europe’s richest race, with Onesto, ridden by Maxime Guyon, coming in third. Ace Impact remained unbeaten in all of his five previous runs for Rouget.
Despite getting worked up in the paddock before the race and starting towards the back of the field, Ace Impact settled into the race and delivered an electrifying burst in the final stages to secure a first prize of over £2.3m. Frankie Dettori, the record-six-time winner in Paris, came in 13th on Free Wind in his 34th and final outing in the race before retiring later that year.
Rouget expressed his delight at winning two Arcs in four years, having previously won with Sottsass three years ago. Ace Impact’s victory marked the first time in a decade that an unbeaten horse had won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The three-year-old Ace Impact’s impressive turn of foot made him a force to be reckoned with in the racing world, and his victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe cemented his place as a rising star. The event was one of the highlights of the racing calendar, with other notable races including the St Leger, Prix du Jockey Club, Prix Vermeille, Japan Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Other notable jockeys in the racing world include Christophe Lemaire, Ryan Moore, Jim Crowley, and Maxime Guyon.
