Few stallion prospects have engendered the levels of excitement attached to Haras de Beaumont’s Ace Impact, the brilliant unbeaten winner of the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club and Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe who will command the highest ever fee for a first-season sire in France.
The son of Cracksman was unbeaten in three starts when lining up for the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly in June, which he would win in breathtaking fashion by three and a half lengths, lowering the race record time in the process.
A straightforward success followed in the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano, before he was set his stiffest task in the Arc. Patiently ridden by Cristian Demuro, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt delivered a devastating change of gear to scythe down his rivals and win by a length and three quarters, with Gr.1 winners filling ten of the next 11 positions. He became the first horse to complete the Jockey Club/Arc double in the same year since the Classic was reduced to 2100m in 2005, produced the fourth fastest winning time in Arc history, and created something of a sensation with his electric closing sectional times.
Crowned European Horse Of The Year following his Arc-winning heroics, Ace Impact is a half-brother to the black- type-placed winners Alessandro (Australia) and Apollo Flight (Rock Of Gibraltar).