“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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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.”

Qatar Prix Niel (G2)
2.400 m – 130.000 EUR – for 3yo
Longchamp

Fantastic Moon (GER)
(3C Sea The Moon – Frangipani, by Jukebox Jury)
J : @RenePiechulek
T :Sarah Steinberg
O :Liberty Racing 2021pic.twitter.com/SHiwJeZZWi

— (@WorldRacing1) September 10, 2023

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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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}).

IDEE 154. Deutsches Derby (G1)
2.400 m – 650.000 EUR – for 3yo mares and colts
Hamburg

Fantastic Moon (GER)
(3C Sea The Moon – Frangipani, by Jukebox Jury)
J :Rene Piechulek
T :Sarah Steinberg
O :Liberty Racing 2021
Mr Hollywood (Iquitos)
Weracruz (Cracksman) pic.twitter.com/59qKhI1o4l

— (@WorldRacing1) July 2, 2023

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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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).

Preis des Winterfavoriten (G3)
1600 m, 155.000 EUR, for 2yo
Köln

Fantastic Moon (GER)
(2C Sea The Moon – Frangipani, by Jukebox Jury)
J :Rene Piechulek
T :Sarah Steinberg
O :Liberty Racing 2021
See Paris (Counterattack)
Arcandi (Zarak) pic.twitter.com/UgHH4Zle2n

— (@WorldRacing1) October 9, 2022

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Mendocino had garnered prizemoney in each of his nine prior runs, winning two, and arrived for his date with destiny off the back of a third in ParisLongchamp's May 12 G3 Prix d'Hedouville and a fifth in June's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly last time. The eventual winner found comfort behind all three rivals and raced fourth, with his head in his chest, passing the judge first time. Inching closer as Torquator Tasso and Sammarco locked horns early and lit each other up off the home turn, he fanned widest of all to the stands' side rail in early straight and refused to yield once hitting the front with 100 metres remaining, holding the late rally of the former by a head in game fashion. Sammarco kept on to finish 1 1/4 lengths further adrift in third.

“I had a mega race, Mendocino switched off well at the back and showed tremendous speed at the end,” said Piechulek after claiming back-to-back victories in the contest. “The result is just awesome and everything worked out wonderfully.” Winning trainer Sarah Steinberg added, “He was coming back off a break, the competition was very strong and we would have been satisfied if Mendocino had finished in the first three. In the race, he was able to stay out of everything and pulled out big at the end. This is a very emotional moment for me. He's supposed to come home before we commit to anything, but of course the [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] is a very likely destination.” Stall Salzburg's Hans-Gerd Wernicke, who also raced Night Magic (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) to farm this contest in 2010, commented, “The break was worth it. We thought long and hard about running here and, ultimately, we made the right decision. Sarah Steinberg is not only first class as a person, but also a first-class trainer.”

“Unfortunately he had the worst race of all participants, he couldn't find any cover and was always galloping freely,” reflected Torquator Tasso's trainer Marcel Weiss. “It's not his ideal track, even though he'd won here before.” Frankie Dettori added, “There wasn't enough pace in the race and the ground wasn't soft enough either. I started working with a half mile to go, but the winner accelerated faster in the straight.” Gestut Auenquelle's Peter-Michael Endres continued, “It was anything but a good race for him, but that's horse racing. It could look different again in Paris and I've just booked Frankie for the Arc.”

Despite a first reversal in four starts, Peter Schiergen was satisfied with the performance of Sammarco, who looks bound for Cologne and the G1 Preis von Europa. “He attacked well, he ran a great race again today and we didn't disgrace ourselves,” the trainer said. “Sammarco always runs great and the Preis von Europa is an option.”

Mendocino, who becomes the eighth Group 1 winner for his ill-fated sire (by In The Wings {GB}), is the first elite-level scorer for the stakes-winning Mill Marin (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Her first foal is G3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf victrix Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) while her fourth is last year's Listed Junioren-Preis third Millionaire (Ger) (Adlerflug {GB}). The March-foaled chestnut's stakes-placed second dam Mill Guineas (Salse), who also produced Listed Prix Herod second Olvia (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), is kin to G2 Falmouth S. victrix Ronda (GB) (Bluebird) and stakes-winning G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Silver Gilt (GB) (Silver Hawk). Ronda, who is the dam of GIII Ack Ack H. scorer Istan (Gone West), is also a half-sister to the dam of G3 Prix du Calvados and G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. victrix Purr Along (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. winner Katawi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Lady Francesca (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Mendocino's fourth dam Memory Lane (Never Bend) won the G3 Princess Royal S. and is a full-sister to G1 Derby hero and leading sire Mill Reef (Never Bend). Mill Marin has a yearling colt by Gleneagles (Ire) to come.

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
152ND WETTSTAR.DE GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €200,000, Baden-Baden, 9-4, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.71, g/s.
1–MENDOCINO (GER), 132, c, 4, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Mill Marin (Ire) (SW-Swe, $148,712), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Mill Guineas, by Salse
3rd Dam: Memory's Gold, by Java Gold
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€58,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBAGS). O-Stall Salzburg; B-Gestut Brummerhof (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €115,000. Lifetime Record: 10-3-2-1, €204,050. *Full to Millionaire (Ger), SP-Ger; and 1/2 to Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), GSW-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, h, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €44,000.
3–Sammarco (Ire), 125, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Saloon Sold (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGS). O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €23,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 6.90, 0.70, 2.20.
Also Ran: Alter Adler (Ger). Scratched: Ardakan (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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