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Ace Impact
Ace Impact and jockey Cristian Demuro at the 2023 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Breed	Thoroughbred
Sire	Cracksman
Grandsire	Frankel
Dam	Absolutly Me
Damsire	Anabaa Blue
Sex	Colt
Foaled	(2020-02-13) February 13, 2020 (age 4)
Country	Ireland
Breeder	Mrs Waltraut Spanner
Owner	Ecuries Serge Stempniak
Trainer	Jean-Claude Rouget
Record	6:6-0-0
Awards
Cartier Horse of the Year (2023) Cartier Champion Three-year-old Colt (2023)
Last updated on November 18, 2023

Ace Impact（born February 13, 2020）is an undefeated Irish-bred, French-trained thoroughbred racehorse. His major wins include the 2023 Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Racing career

Ace Impact made his debut at a maiden race held at the Hippodrome de la Côte d'Azur on January 25, 2023, where he also made his first victory with Cristian Demuro at the helm. He ran and won his second race, an allowance race, on April 2 at the Hippodrome de Bordeaux le Bouscat with jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The horse then won his third consecutive race at the Prix de Suresnes, a Listed Race held at Chantilly, with Demuro back as jockey.

Ace Impact ran the Prix du Jockey Club on June 4 as the 3rd most favored. The horse ran the race in the rear of the pack behind Marhaba Ya Sanafi. As the pack entered the final stretch, Ace Impact went in to the outside and picked up speed. At around the final 100-meter mark, the horse caught front runner Big Rock and won against him by three and a half lengths, marking his first Group 1 victory.

After a 2 months long break, Ace Impact entered the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano held on August 15, where he was the most favored to win with the odds of winning at 1.4. The horse started with stablemate Cambronne taking the lead, with Ace Impact trailing from 8 lengths behind in the back of the pack. The horse seemed to want to move up initially, but calmed down as the race went on. As the horse entered the final stretch from the outside alongside Al Riffa, Ace Impact passed the horse at the final 100 meters and beat him with 3/4 lengths.

Ace Impact then entered the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, held on October 1. The weather at Longchamps that day was very sunny, and many horses were sweating. Also, prior to the race Ace Impact acted excited. The horse was the most favored to win the race, with PMU [fr] having the odds set at 2.5, and the JRA's odds at 2.8.

With no clear runners anticipated, Mr Hollywood took the lead, with Ace Impact running from the 3rd furthest in the back alongside Through Seven Seas [ja]. After passing the half-way point of the False Straight, Ace Impact moved to the outside to catch up to the front. At the final stretch the other horses started to push up as they passed the Open Stretch. The horse sped up from the outside and took the lead, finishing the race with a length-and-three-quarters against second place Westover, and marking his 6th consecutive victory since his debut at one of the most prestigious races. The horse finished the race in 2:25.50, and the horse ran the last 3 furlongs at 33.06 seconds.

After this victory, there were plans to race in either the Champion Stakes or the Japan Cup. The latter race was seriously considered in order to defeat Equinox, who was rated the best horse in the world, but as the trip to Japan was deemed too long for the horse, the plan was quickly scrapped. It was ultimately decided, and announced on October 12, that he would retire from racing.

On November 9, Ace Impact was named the Horse of the Year and Champion Three-year-old Colt of the Cartier Awards. This was the first time since Treve in 2013 for a French-trained horse to be named the Cartier Horse of the Year.

Racing statistics

The following is based on the statistics listed on JRA-VAN [ja]

Stud career

Starting from the 2024 season, Ace Impact will stand stud at Haras de Beaumont in Normandy. His service fee is set at 40,000 Euros, the highest of any first-year stallion ever.

Pedigree

• Ibn Bey, winner of numerous Group I races, is a half brother to Barakat, who is Ace Impact's great-grand dam.

References

1. ^ "エースインパクト（Ace Impact） | 競馬データベース | J - 海外競馬情報サイト". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
2. Gareau, Marie Pauline (May 5, 2023). "Jeudi à Chantilly – Prix de Suresnes : Ace Impact valide avec brio son ticket pour le Jockey-Club". Paris-Turf (in French). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
3. "仏ダービー（G1） 2023/6/4(日)". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
4. "仏ダービーはエースインパクトが豪快な追い込み勝ち、ハーツクライ産駒コンティニュアスは8着". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
5. FRESNAIS, Raphaël (June 4, 2023). "Prix du Jockey Club 2023. Et de six pour le Deauvillais Jean-Claude Rouget avec Ace Impact !". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
6. ^ "エースインパクトが仏G2ギヨームドルナノ賞で無敗継続、凱旋門賞へ一歩前進". JRA-VAN Ver.World - 海外競 (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
7. ^ "出馬表 | 2023凱旋門賞". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
8. ^ "無傷のエースインパクト、世界驚愕の末脚で凱旋門賞を制覇（フランス）［その他］". 公益財団法人　ジャパン・スタッドブック・インターナショナル. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
9. "【凱旋門賞】エースインパクトが無傷6連勝で頂点に！ スルーセブンシーズは小差の4着に善戦". JRA-VAN Ver.World - 海外競馬 (in Japanese). October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
10. "【凱旋門賞】エースインパクトの上がりは33秒06！フランケルの血を持つ３頭が上位独占". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
11. "Equinox Validates Status as World's Best with Record Win in Tenno Sho (Autumn)". Horse Racing in Japan. October 29, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
12. ^ "凱旋門賞馬エースインパクト電撃引退 ６戦無敗で来年から種牡馬入りへ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
13. "無敗の凱旋門賞馬エースインパクトが引退、フランスで種牡馬入り". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
14. ^ Lees, Jon (October 13, 2023). ""Very rare" talent Ace Impact retired to stud unbeaten after Arc triumph". The Mirror. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
15. "欧州年度代表馬はエースインパクト、オーギュストロダンの受賞ならず". JRA-VAN Ver.World (in Japanese). November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
16. "Cartier Racing Awards: Arc winner Ace Impact named Horse of The Year for 2023". Sky Sports. November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
17. Berry, Emma (October 12, 2023). "Ace Impact Retired to Haras de Beaumont". TDN. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
18. "無敗の凱旋門賞馬エースインパクト、種付け料はフランスの初年度最高額４万ユーロに設定". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
19. "Ace Impact To Stand At €40,000". TDN. October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
20. "血統情報：5代血統表｜Ace Impact(IRE)｜JBIS-Search". jbis.jp. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
21. "PEDIGREE (5-GEN)". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2023.

• 2020 racehorse births
• Arc winners
• Cartier Award winners
• Racehorses bred in Ireland
• Racehorses trained in France
• Thoroughbred family 12-b
• Undefeated racehorses
• European Thoroughbred Horse of the Year