13 October 2023 , 12:47
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Europe's champion racehorse has been retired to stud after just one campaign.
Three-year-old Ace Impact took an unusual path to the top after making his debut in an all-weather race at Cagnes-Sur-Mer at the end of January.
It was the first of six successive wins for the colt which included the French Derby and climaxed with a brilliant win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in which he defeated Westover and Onesto, the only time he took on older horses.
Owners Serge Stempniak and the Chehboub family’s Gousserie Racing considered a possible Japan Cup bid or even campaigning on in 2024, but eventually opted to retire their star to stand at Haras de Beaumont stud in Normandy.
Ace Impact bows out with a perfect six-out-of-six record and earnings of more than £3.5 million.
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Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said: "The way he races and his acceleration is very rare in a racehorse.
“Very few racehorses are able to accelerate like that and for me (2008 Arc winner) Zarkava was a super champion and maybe had the superior acceleration, but he is not far from that.
“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 One and Group Two and then another Group One.
“We had very good days with Almanzor in the Prix du Jockey Club and Sottsass in the Jockey Club and the Arc and (they) were equally good champions. With Ace Impact his acceleration is stronger and with him, in three steps, the race is over.”
On his overriding memories of Ace Impact and the opportunity to train his progeny in the future, the handler added: “We have a few years to wait and we will try to find another one like him.
“We are champion trainer for the fifth time in France thanks to Ace Impact.
“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.”