Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2023. Here are the statements from the entourage:
Jean-Claude Rouget (coach ofAce Impact1st): “He wins as usual, with the same tactics. He is an extraordinary horse, a crack horse. He leaves us speechless. He had a clear course and his great action did the rest. He is out of the ordinary, quite simply. He is very sensitive. The big winner today is a daring man, Kamel Chehboubwho dared to buy half ofAce Impactalthough it does not have a classic pedigree, as well asGolden Horizon. He has the two best 3-year-old foals in France!”
Cristian Demuro (jockey ofAce Impact1st): “I got closer in the false straight. The horse was very relaxed and I know that when he is like that, as soon as you press the button, he flies away!”
Serge Stempniak (co-owner ofAce Impact, 1st): “I was relatively serene and, like Ace Impact, I tensed up in the last ten minutes. And, from now on, I’m like the foal in the winner’s circle (laughs)! The tension has gone down but I don’t realize it, I think. I would need a few days, a bit like during the Jockey Club. He is truly impressive and I believe he is very intelligent. Yes, he tenses up but because he knows he has a job to do and he does it very well! Today the planets were aligned. I was just afraid that Christian gets injured yesterday or doesn’t stay in the saddle today! “
Kamel Chehboub (co-owner ofAce Impact1st): “It’s done! I would like to thank Jean-Claude Rouget, who did an extraordinary job. I also say thank you to my family, who have been investing for 25 years and it is thanks to them that we are here today. I hope we gave everyone a lot of fun today. I am certain that he will have a great career as a stallion in France.”
Pauline Chehboub (co-owner ofAce Impact1st): “It’s a dream come true. We had a lot of pressure today. We are very proud to be able to offer, when the time comes, this crack to French breeders in our Beaumont stud farm. For the rest, We will let him recover before deciding on his future program.”
Raph Beckett (coach of Westover2nd): “He relaxed a little in the boxes and we had to ask him to make an effort to get a good place in the peloton. The leader set his pace. But I think we are quite simply beaten by a better horse than ours. We could never have finished in front Ace Impact. Westover can be proud of his second place. One day he will win his big race. I’m thinking about the Breeders’ Cup Turf now. It’s very tempting. He likes to travel, we saw him in Dubai. It was a good idea to run the Arc, but we are beaten by a very good horse.”
Fabrice Chappet (coach ofOnesto3rd): “I did say that his last outing, in Ireland, in the Irish Champion Stakes, did not count. Except on this occasion, Onesto has always done all his shopping, without necessarily being very happy each time. Today he found himself far away but he had a good race in the wake of the winner. He finished very close to second, it’s great. But unfortunately, horses that carry three kilos more (as 4-year-olds) go slower… For the future, it would be logical to compete in a Breeders’ Cup.”
Tomohito Ozeki (coach of Through Seven Seas4th): “His jockey Christophe Lemaire imagined a race without much train and wanted to place the mare as close to the lead as possible. She didn’t come out of the stalls very well and therefore had a bit of ground to rebuild. I’m quite happy with her race, she finished well. The rest of his program will be decided upon his return to Japan. She should run another time or two this year.”
Aidan O’Brien (coach of Continuous5th): “We are really very happy with the race Continuous. He drew a very nice straight line. He appreciated the good terrain. We will see with his owners but he could go to the Japan Cup. Hong Kong and Dubai are also possibilities. He is a horse that travels well. He should still progress at 4 years old.”
Lanfranco Dettori (jockey of Free Windunplaced): “I had a golden ride for my last Arc. I didn’t have too many illusions before the race. It’s a great moment and I’m very proud to have ridden this 34 times exceptional race. It’s a record that will stand.” (Source France Galop)