Fantastic Moon (Ger) has emulated his sire Sea The Moon (Ger) not just by winning the G1 Deutsches Derby but now also in being crowned German Horse of Year for 2023.
The colt, owned by Liberty Racing, won the oldest public vote in the history of German sport, which took place on his fourth birthday, March 21.
“We are very proud of this title. Fantastic Moon absolutely deserves it,” said Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, the co-founder of the colt's ownership syndicate Liberty Racing.
“His magnificent victory in the 2023 German Derby and his superior victory as the first German horse in the Prix Niel in Paris have clearly shown that he is currently Germany's best horse, and the fans have now confirmed this with their vote for the Sea The Moon colt.”
Sea The Moon was himself made Horse of the Year following his 11-length Derby win in 2014. The Lanwades Stud resident had an emphatic influence on the German Classics last season and was also responsible for the first three home in the G1 Preis der Diana, led by Muskoka (Ger), who was bred by Baumgarten.
Fantastic Moon remains in training with Sarah Steinberg in Munich with the aim being for him to make his seasonal debut at Hoppegarten in the Listed Preis von Dahlwitz on Easter Sunday. His runner-up in the Derby, Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), is also entered for the race. After Berlin, the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp at the end of April is also under consideration for Fantastic Moon.
Baumgarten added, “He is only the second Derby winner in the past 23 years to win this award, likely because he has built up a large fanbase. We thank everyone who voted for him and of course his team around trainer Sarah Steinberg and jockey Rene Piechulek for the outstanding work with our hero.”
His co-founder in Liberty Racing, Nadine Siepmann, said, “As a child, I was impressed every year watching the Horse of the Year vote on TV, and now our horse has won the vote, which is so great.”
There are 22 members in the ownership group for Fantastic Moon, and this represents the first time that the German Horse of the Year has been owned by a syndicate. Liberty Racing was set up in 2020 and now has seven active syndicates with 16 horses in training for more than 100 shareholders.
Siepmann added, “Owner syndicates are enormously important for horse racing in order to introduce the great thoroughbred horses to new people. That's why it's all the more wonderful that these communities also win big races and own great horses, that's the best advertising.”
Fantastic Moon was bred by Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg from the Jukebox Jury (Ire) mare Frangipani (Ger). Now 10, the mare is due to foal to Sea The Stars (Ire) and she will return to Sea The Moon (Ger) this season.
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