Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered to a wide-margin triumph underneath Hamburg's stands' side rail in the 2014 G1 Deutsches Derby and his Sarah Steinberg-trained son Fantastic Moon (Ger) ploughed the same furrow to claim a clear-cut success of his own in Sunday's latest renewal of the German highlight.
The 31-5 third favourite was positioned well off the pace with just one of his 19 rivals in arrears for the most part. Inching forward on the home turn, he was sent wide into the straight to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and kept on powerfully under late rousting to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from 'TDN Rising Star' Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}). Gestut Ebbesloh's homebred Weracruz (Ger) (Cracksman {GB}), the lone filly in a field of 20, stayed on well to finish 2 1/2 lengths adrift in third.
Fantastic Moon's triumph was a first win in the contest for Rene Piechulek, whose career high came aboard Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ge}) in 2021's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “I was able to keep him well relaxed at the back of field as we knew the trip might be at the extent of his stamina,” he explained. “He galloped easily throughout and quickened really well into the straight where I was able to make full use of his great finishing speed. It is a very emotional moment for my wife and I, we are extremely happy.” The win was also a first edition for trainer Sarah Steinberg, who added, “This almost unbelievable. Fantastic Moon is a very ambitious horse with a big heart and it was good that Rene could settle him way behind and then make use of his great turn of foot.”
Fantastic Moon's pathway to glory began with a perfect two-race 2022 campaign which featured a win in Germany's premier juvenile contest, Cologne's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, and he met with his only defeat when third behind My Hollywood in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic on seasonal debut at the beginning of May. He regained winning ways in his latest start, accounting for a clutch of reopposing contenders going 10 furlongs in Baden-Baden's May 20 Derby-Trial.
Pedigree Notes
Fantastic Moon, who becomes the third Group 1 winner for his sire, is the second foal and lone scorer produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Sveaas Minnelop victor Fearless Hunter (Ger) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and Listed Arnfinn Lund Minnelop third Fil Rouge (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}). The March-foaled bay, who is from the family of MGISW sire Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}), is kin to a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) and a weanling filly by Masar (Ire). His second dam Firedance (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) is a half-sister to G3 Rockfel S. victrix Germane (GB) (Distant Relative [Ire}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit runner-up Fabriano (GB) (Shardari {Ire}). Germane, in turn, is the dam of stakes-winning GI Hollywood Derby third Lucky Chappy (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Listed Kolner Stuten Meile runner-up Granted (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}).
Sunday, Hamburg, Germany
IDEE 154TH DEUTSCHES DERBY-G1, €650,000, Hamburg, 7-2, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:39.11, g/s.
1–FANTASTIC MOON (GER), 128, c, 3, by Sea The Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Frangipani (Ger), by Jukebox Jury (Ire)
2nd Dam: Firedance (Ger), by Lomitas (GB)
3rd Dam: Fraulein Tobin, by J. O. Tobin
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€49,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €390,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, €516,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mr Hollywood (Ire), 128, c, 3, Iquitos (Ger)–Margie's Music (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€15,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Wanja Soren Oberhof & Sebastian Weiss; B-Gestut Ammerland (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €130,000.
3–Weracruz (Ger), 125, f, 3, Cracksman (GB)–Winnemark (Ger), by Lando (Ger). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €78,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 6.20, 4.40, 59.60.
Also Ran: Winning Spirit (Ger), If Not Now (GB), Pivotal Trigger (GB), Lips Freedom (Ger), Napolitano (Ire), Vintage Moon (Ger), Sirjan (Ger), I Fight For Lips (Ger), Merkur (Fr), Skylo (Ger), Saint Cloud (Ger), Straight (Ger), Quality Road (Ger), Wales (Ger), See Paris (Ger), Aspirant (Ger), Nachtgeist (Ire).
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