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• Kinross disappointment for Dettori in Foret

  There was no fitting last ride at ParisLongchamp for Frankie Dettori, with Kinross thwarted in his quest for back-to-back Qatar Prix de la Foret victories by Kelina, who survived a nervy stewards’ inquiry.

  The retiring Italian was in no rush in the early stages aboard the Ralph Beckett-trained six-year-old, with the first past the post just ahead of him in the order, racing keenly in the hands of Maxime Guyon.

  With Dettori and Kinross locked on the inner, Kelina was able to get first run on the big-race favourite.

  However, there was still drama to come as Kelina edged right towards the rail while making her challenge, squeezing both Dettori aboard Kinross and Richard Hannon’s Shouldvebeenaring for room at a vital point in the contest.

  Dettori had enough time to switch Kinross and have one last-gasp crack at the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained victor, but was unable to bridge the deficit in the closing stages.

  Dettori immediately signalled his intention to appeal, but after a stewards’ inquiry the result was unaltered, bringing to an end both Kinross’ phenomenal winning run over seven furlongs and the 52-year-old’s riding career in France.

  After the race, a disappointed Beckett said: “We were second best on the day and that’s it. We weren’t good enough.”

  When asked if Kinross remained on track for another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Mile, he added: “We will see how he goes, I don’t know yet.”

  Firmly on course for the Breeders’ Cup Mile is the winner, who could now get the chance to replicate the achievements of three-time Mile winner Goldikova who sported the same silks of owners Wertheimer and Frere.

  The Foret victory was a welcome return to form for Kelina, who having finished fourth in the French 1000 Guineas earlier in the season before claiming the Group Two Prix de Sandringham put disappointments in both the Prix Rothschild and Prix du Moulin behind her.

  “She finished last here in the Marcel Boussac and has come a long way since,” said Laffon-Parias.

  “Last time when she came here and she didn’t run well we didn’t really have an explanation, but the soft ground was obviously not in her favour.

  “She ran a fabulous race in the Prix de Sandringham when she had her ground but again her last start in the Moulin she didn’t have a very good draw and we were going to wait with her, but she just didn’t run her race and that allowed her to come here today fresh.

  “After you have won a a Group Two you can only really go for a Group One and we have tried. We had been invited to go to Keeneland and accepted but then we we’re talking about it, we made the decision to come here and we were very pleased with the decision to come here.

  “It is no secret that my career is more behind me than in front of me, but I have no plans to stop.”

• ‘One of the top horses in the world’ – Rouget hails Ace Impact

  Jean-Claude Rouget’s unshakeable confidence in Ace Impact proved fully justified, as the unbeaten colt produced a performance for the ages in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp.

  The son of Cracksman’s path to becoming Europe’s premier middle-distance colt has not been a conventional one, but then this is no ordinary colt.

  Provincial wins at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in January and Bordeaux in early April suggested Ace Impact was a horse of some potential. But few could have envisaged at that stage he would go on to secure one of the most visually striking Arc wins in recent memory.

  The three-year-old was dominant when claiming Classic glory in the French Derby in June – and while the margin of his next triumph in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano did not leave every onlooker purring, Rouget knew there was more in the tank.

  Baked in Parisian sunshine, Ace Impact went to post for his biggest test as the 5-2 favourite and it was impossible to be anything but blown away by the way he found a Dancing Brave-esque turn of speed to run down the leaders and ultimately win with consummate ease.

  It was put to Rouget in the aftermath that the majority of those in attendance were left speechless, but he said: “Actually, I more or less expected to see that turn of foot and that acceleration.

  “He wasn’t able to show it at Cagnes-Sur-Mer or Bordeaux, but even after a slow beginning in the Prix du Jockey Club he literally flew home.

  “At Deauville he wasn’t ready and I know people we were saying he had not run at Longchamp before, but I thought he would be able to deploy that acceleration, especially on the ground we have today.

  “My last reflection before the start of the race was to say to myself, ‘it’s too good to be true’, but it was not too good, it was true!”

  Supporters of Ace Impact will undoubtedly have been a little worried beforehand, as he was noticeably on his toes in the parade ring before Cristian Demuro was given the leg-up.

  Rouget – who struck with the Demuro-ridden Sottsass in 2020 – insisted he was not overly concerned, adding: “You just have to manage it. He’s like a child, an adolescent who needs to be looked after and reassured constantly. If he was able to talk, he would tell you he’s a very sensitive being.

  “I knew the horse was in stronger shape than he was for the Prix du Jockey Club, which is normal as he’s more mature now. He was in marvellous shape before the race.

  “The best acceleration I’ve ever seen is Zarkava and this horse is not far off. Sottsass was a very good horse and a very strong horse, but he was not the same type of horse. He was an extraordinary horse, but this one has the power of acceleration of one of the top horses in the world.”

  Demuro was able to begin celebrating before passing the post in front, such was the authority with which Ace Impact won, before performing a Frankie Dettori-like flying dismount on returning to the winner’s enclosure.

  He said: “I knew it was the last day (at Longchamp) for Frankie, so I did it for him!”

  Of Ace Impact, he added: “I knew when I was going to push the button he was going to accelerate, and that is what he did.

  “It’s amazing to win the Arc for the second time with an amazing horse. He has a wonderful turn of foot. He’s just a champion.

  “I started screaming 200 metres from the post because I saw I was going to win, so I started screaming with the horse.”

  What the future holds for Ace Impact remains undecided, with various possibilities on the table.

  He could be retired to stud with an unbeaten record, he could have a crack at the Japan Cup before the year is out and he could even be back next season, but connections are understandably keen to let the dust settle before committing to anything.

  Pauline Chehboub, representing part owners Gousserie Racing, said: “It was a dream to be able to run the horse against all those champions in that race today.

  “Obviously we have to take some time and see how the horse is after his race and then discuss it with the whole team, to see what is next.

  “The Japan Cup is one of the greatest races on the whole planet, so we we will see. It’s not a no, but we don’t know about the future.”

• Highfield Princess takes Abbaye crown

  Highfield Princess bounced back to her very best to claim the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines with a thrilling late thrust at ParisLongchamp.

  John Quinn’s star mare was a regular on the scoresheet at the highest level last season, but although running with real credit throughout the current campaign, she had just the one victory to her name in 2023 as she headed to the French capital.

  Having to overcome both a disappointing showing at the Curragh last time and a tricky draw in stall 14, Jason Hart was urging his mount forwards throughout as George Boughey’s Perdika blazed a trail from stall one.

  The Boughey raider still looked to have plenty up her sleeve as the field entered the final furlong but as the line approached Perdika’s stride was shortening, while Highfield Princess was edging ever closer and in the shadow of the post, the six-year-old surged to the front to register a welcome return to the sprinting big-time.

  Quinn said: “I’m thrilled really. Down the years we have had plenty of horses run really well at this wonderful meeting. In the Abbaye, El Astronaute was third, Liberty Beach was beaten two heads, Safe Voyage was beaten two heads in the Foret.

  “It is one of the greatest meetings in the world and I hoped I would one day train a winner here and it is wonderful.”

  He went on: “She tries hard and you could say from where she was drawn she was inconvenienced. But she toughed it into the race and toughed it out of the race because two furlongs out she was flat out, but fair dues to her.

  “It was a very brave decision (to keep her in training) considering she had won three Group Ones in Europe and was probably one of the best fillies around. I’m so pleased they have been totally vindicated.

  “She’s shown she’s as good as any sprinting mare in the world. She showed today what a top-class, sprinting filly she is.”

  Quinn will now be urging Highfield Princess’ owners to give the go-ahead for a second tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint having finished fourth at Keeneland last November.

  When asked about the mare’s next run being at Santa Anita next month, Quinn said: “Why not? It was all about today and she came through it well.

  “We were very happy with her the last couple of weeks. I will need to speak to my owner but I would be strongly suggesting it.

  “We needed to see how today went and today went very well. I wouldn’t rule out the Breeders’ Cup or the big sprint at Hong Kong in December.

  “It’s John and his family’s decision whether she’ll race on next year, but as long as she’s OK she could go to Santa Anita or Sha Tin.”

  Hart added: “She was flat out all the way. It was only in the last 50 yards when the leader tied up that I knew we were going to win. What a mare, she’s so tough.”

  Perdika kept hold of the silver medal with Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables and Tom Clover’s Rogue Lightning also on the premises.