‘It’s a Love Story’: America and Japan Beckon for Fantastic Moon

Despite having run out the convincing winner of the G2 Prix Niel, one of Sunday's key Arc trials at Longchamp, the Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) will not run in this year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Instead he has potential trips to America and Japan on his agenda, according to Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, who manages the colt's ownership syndicate Liberty Racing. 

“We have decided not to sell him. We've had big offers from all over the world but we have decided to run him. It's a love story, it's an adventure and we will go this way,” Baumgarten told TDN on Wednesday morning. 

Fantastic Moon is trained in Munich by Sarah Steinberg, a rising star of the training ranks. Earlier this season she became the first female trainer of a Deutsches Derby winner after nothing her first Group 1 success the previous year in the Grosser Preis von Baden with Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}).

Baumgarten continued, “It's only 18 days between his journey back to Munich after the Prix Niel and then back to Longchamp, and in our opinion that is too much for him. He loves to have a break of about six weeks between races and we believe that he will be a very good four-year-old.

“He's fit and well. He had a vet check today and we are very happy with him and we want to go to the big races next year. We want to create a sire. The Arc is a big, big race and it could be run on soft ground, nobody knows at the moment. He loves good ground, so the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita and the Japan Cup, which is also considered, are safer when it comes to finding good ground.”

In a statement released by Liberty Racing, Sarah Steinberg said, “I am obviously very happy about this decision and very grateful. Fantastic Moon is a great horse who is still maturing and therefore he needs an appropriate break between races.”

Baumgarten's Classic success in Germany in 2023 has not been confined to his involvement with Fantastic Moon. He is the co-breeder of the G1 Preis der Diana winner Muskoka (Ger), who is also by Sea The Moon, and he retains a 25% share of the filly along with three partners. 

On Tuesday it was announced that Muskoka would be one of three German Classic winners to be auctioned at Arqana's Arc Sale on the eve of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, along with 2,000 Guineas winner Angers (Fr) (Seabhac) and last year's Derby winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Baumgarten added, “We will sell Muskoka at the Arc Sale if the price is good. She has a nomination for the Prix de l'Opera on that weekend. I still have her mother and I have her sister.”

 

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Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Dominates Niel Rivals

Liberty Racing's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Frangipani {Ger}, by Jukebox Jury {Ire}) suffered a reversal following up in Munich's G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen last time and bounced back in style to dominate the closing stages of Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp.

The Sarah Steinberg trainee tanked forward to stalk the pace in third for the most part and improved into second along the false straight. Coming under pressure soon after turning for home, the 51-10 chance quickened to seize control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear to easily outpoint G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by 2 1/2 lengths. Juddmonte's Bravais (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was another late closer and finished a half-length back in third.

“We made the correct decision not to run him last time [in the Sept. 3 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden] at Baden-Baden because the ground was overwatered,” said Liberty Racing's Lars-Wilhem Baumgarten. “The trainer and the jockey have done a great job and he's a great horse, but he needs good ground. Today's race lacked pace and it wasn't straightforward. However, he's easy to handle and very talented. In my opinion, he's the best winner of the German Derby since [his sire] Sea The Moon. He's still going strong at the end of his 3-year-old campaign and we're so happy for our syndicate. We have four horses and two of them are Group class. We'll be making a decision, as to where he goes next, on Monday.”

That decision looks unlikely to include a ticket to next month's Arc, according to Sarah Steinberg. “Rather than the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, we're thinking about other possibilities,” the trainer revealed. “These include the Japan Cup and the Breeders' Cup.”

Pascal Bary feels there is more to come from runner-up Feed the Flame and considers the run vital education, despite defeat, en route to a tilt at next month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “He picked up well, but he wasn't quite as ready as I thought and the last 100 metres seemed a bit of an eternity for him,” the trainer reflected. “Christophe Soumillon made sure the colt was given a lesson when it came to racing between horses, which is a good form of preparation, and he wasn't hard on him. Of course, it's always better to win than to be second. That said, the winner Fantastic Moon has every right to be considered a good colt. Feed The Flame will line up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and, if the ground were to ease, that would be even better!”

Juddmonte representative Claude Beniada was pleased with the effort of Bravais, who registered a career-high placing on pattern-race debut. “Obviously, this is the best performance of his career and Bravais is certainly more relaxed when he waits during a race,” he said. “At Deauville last time, he showed that he wouldn't be bothered by a longer distance. He's proved that today and it's very encouraging. He hasn't stopped improving and, if all goes well, he'll develop into a good 4-year-old.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Fantastic Moon, one of his sire's four Group 1 winners, 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, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-10, 3yo, 12fT, 2:33.20, gd.
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
(€49,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ger, 7-5-1-1, €620,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Feed The Flame (GB), 128, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Knyazhna (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'. (€270,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud & Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Pascal Bary. €28,600.
3–Bravais (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Lucky Kristale (GB), by Lucky Story. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 2. Odds: 5.10, 0.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire), Greenland (Ire), King Of Records (Fr), Goldenas (Ire). Scratched: Winter Pudding (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Emulates Sire With Deutsches Derby Triumph

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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Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Wins The Winterfavoriten

Off the mark on debut over seven furlongs at Munich Sept. 12, Liberty Racing 2021's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Frangipani {Ger}, by Jukebox Jury {Ire}) pitched his case as one of Germany's leading Classic contenders for 2023 in Sunday's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne. Settled in mid-division early by Rene Piechulek, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 14-5 shot stayed in his group of three racing away from the remainder.

Drifting left in the straight to join the others towards the stand's rail, the bay had the lead approaching the furlong pole and was driven out to ward off the G3 Zukunfts-Rennen runner-up See Paris (Ger) (Counterattack {Aus}) by half a length, with 2 3/4 lengths back to Arcandi (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) in third. “He's a cool guy,” Piechulek told galopponline.de., while his partner Steinberg added, “He was growing for a long time, but after his success he made another real leap.”

Pedigree Notes
Fantastic Moon is the second foal out of Frangipani, a half-sister to the G3 Sveat Minnelop winner Fearless Hunter (Ger) (Alhaarth {Ire}) from the family of the G3 Rockfel S. winner Germane (GB) (Distant Relative [Ire}). She in turn produced the GI Hollywood Derby and GII Virginia Derby-placed Lucky Chappy (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), while others featuring are the G3 Prestige S. winner Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), one of the current stars of racing in the States, Jack Christopher (Munnings), and the dual top-level-winning sire Street Boss. Frangipani also has a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) named Fang Mich (Ger) and a filly foal by Masar (Ire).

Saturday, Cologne, Germany
PREIS DES WINTERFAVORITEN-G3, €155,000, Cologne, 10-9, 2yo, 8fT, 1:38.38, g/s.
1–FANTASTIC MOON (GER), 128, c, 2, 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 BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€49,000 Ylg '21 BBASEP). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €88,600. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–See Paris (Ger), 128, c, 2, Counterattack (Aus)–Scouting (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). (€32,000 Ylg '21 BBASEP). O-Cometica AG; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €31,000.
3–Arcandi (Ger), 128, c, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Santanna (Fr), by Country Reel.
1ST BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €20,500.
Margins: HF, 2 3/4, SHD. Odds: 2.80, 2.60, 2.50.
Also Ran: Garpur (Fr), Sirjan (Ger), Merkur (Fr), Senador (Ger).

 

 

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