Owen Burrows is far from the only person wondering just what Ace Impact may be capable of on Sunday. But in his warhorse Hukum, he knows exactly what he has at his disposal heading into the Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) at Longchamp.
Exciting as the undefeated French three-year-old may be, Ace Impact has not been tested beyond the 2,100m of his superb victory in June’s Group One Prix du Jockey Club.
However, seasoned six-year-old Hukum has twice tasted success at the elite level over 12 furlongs, winning the 2022 Coronation Cup at Epsom and July’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
“Ace Impact could be an absolute monster, couldn’t he? He’s looked very good so far. He’s stepping up in trip, but I can’t see that that’s going to bother him. He’s the unknown, but obviously, our fella’s been there and done it back home in England. All being well, he’ll run his normal consistent race, and we can be knocking on the door,” said Burrows, a private trainer for Shadwell before going out on his own in recent years.
Burrows is trying to ensure it is business as usual in the build-up to his first Arc runner, but he is no doubt pinching himself as he prepares to tackle one of the world’s best races with a horse who is second favourite in betting.
Making it all the more special is his first Group One win as a trainer came thanks to Hukum – a Coronation Cup breakthrough in which the galloper fractured a fetlock and required nursing back to full health.
“He’s been a huge part of my career. I’ll be forever indebted to him, and to have a fancied one running in an Arc, it’s huge. It brings a lot of pride, and hopefully, he can do himself justice and run a huge race,” Burrows said of the son of 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars.
“To have a horse in your own name being competitive in these sorts of races is what we all dream of as trainers.
“It gives you huge satisfaction. It’s a big team effort,” Burrows added of Hukum’s brilliant recovery from an injury that kept him off the racetrack for the best part of a year.
“Surgeon Ian Wright operated on him the Saturday after he won the Coronation Cup, so he’s played a huge part, and the team back at Shadwell rehabbed him and did a great job.
“He came back to me at the end of last year – November, I think it was – and my team has done a great job with him as well. There’s a big sense of pride.”
The Arc will be one of eight races offered for betting from France on Sunday, and the Jockey Club will be hoping some of the contest’s 15 runners then shift focus to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, but Burrows confirmed Hukum will not be one of them.
“Probably not with him, I’ll be honest, but we’re thinking of possibly bringing Alflaila over to Hong Kong. He’s a horse who won the Group Two [Sky Bet York Stakes (2,100m)] and then finished fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes when things didn’t really go to plan,” said the British trainer.
“I think he’s better than that. He was only beaten just over three lengths, so I don’t think he’s too far off Group One class. He’s going to go to Ascot for the Champion Stakes, and there are still a few discussions to have, but it’s been spoken we may just bring him over to Hong Kong. Whether it’s the Vase or the Cup, let’s see.”
And on the prospect of training in Hong Kong one day? “You never say never, but we’re happy at home, and we’re building up.”
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