By Duane Fonseca
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and jockey Cristian Demuro enjoyed a second Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe success after allowing the brilliance of Ace Impact to emerge in Europe’s showpiece middle-distance contest on Sunday.
By Darley stallion Cracksman, Ace Impact stretched his unbeaten run to six after sending tremors through ParisLongchamp’s packed grandstands with a thunderbolt finish down the straight which carried him to a famous win.
German trainer Henk Grewe’s Mr Hollywood set the pace under Bauyrzhan Murzabayev after battling Bay Bridge early on, but he was clearly going too fast in his bid to get free of his field and faded badly in the straight to finish last of 15.
The Shadwell-owned Hukum and Juddmonte’s Westover tried to relive the rivalry that saw the former triumph in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July, but Owen Burrows’ Hukum was no match on this occasion with Ralph Beckett’s Westover dispatching him easily.
Westover led briefly but was clearly not in a position to hold on as Ace Impact, settled at the rear of the field, picked up the pace after coming under a ride last of all.
Asked for his effort turning for home, the Prix du Jockey Club champion responded with a sprint to the front for a length and three fourths win over Westover, the ride of Rob Hornby.
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Fabrice Chappet’s Onesto did his best with a furious late charge, but could only finish a shorthead behind in third under Maxime Guyon.
Victory represented a fine achievement for the Cracksman colt, who was unraced as a juvenile, ahead of Frankel-sired pair Westover and Onesto.
Rouget and Demuro, who won the 2020 running with Sottsass, were understandably elated with the triumph.
Demuro said: “It is unbelievable, I am speechless!
“It is hard to put into words what this win is like compared to the 2020 win in front of so many people. He sprinted down the final straight like he wanted to go home!. It is extraordinary to ride crack horses like horses like this, it is just amazing.”
Victory was a “dream come true” for Rouget, 70, who said: “It is huge this win. To win like that you must have everything right with the horse. Ace Impact was in magnificent form up to the race.”
Riding in his last Arc, the retiring Frankie Dettori was not given a chance to make an impression by John and Thady Gosdens listless Free Wind, who finished 13th.
“I really enjoyed it,” said the 52-year-old.
“The Arc has been a great race for me and I am bowing out with a smile on my face. This morning I was sad, now after three rides I feel the adrenaline kicking in, we'll miss it. I really enjoyed it. Six Arc wins, what can you say, some great champions, and riding in 34 Arcs is a record in itself.”
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