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).

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