Fantastic Moon became Horse of The Year 2023

"We are very proud of this title - Fantastic Moon absolutely deserves it," says Liberty Racing founder Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten after the results were announced by Deutscher Galopp today. "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," Baumgarten continued.

The now four-year-old, who is being excellently prepared by Sarah Steinberg in Munich showed a stellar season as a two-year-old (2 starts - 2 wins) winning the prestigious title for Germany’s two-year-olds of „Winterkönig“ and finishing his first campaign as champion of his crop. Fanta, as he is lovingly called by his team, also became champion as a three-year-old with his three wins and is still active on the racecourse this year, set to kick off his 2024 season at Berlin- Hoppegarten on Easter Sunday. "Fanta will do his final work for the season opener in Berlin tomorrow, after which a final decision will be made," Baumgarten continues.

"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," says a delighted Liberty Racing co-founder Nadine Siepmann on behalf of the 22 owners who have joined forces with Liberty Racing 2021 to own the Horse of the Year.

"He is only the second Derby winner in the past 23 years to win this award, likely because he has built up a large fan base. 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," so Baumgarten after the win.

Liberty Racing is also the first owners' syndicate to present a Horse of the Year. "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," Nadine Siepmann continues.