Arc next for 'very special' Fantastic Moon after denying William Haggas' Dubai Honour in Grosser Preis von Baden

Fantastic Moon took off up the home straight to win the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday and will attempt to follow suit in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next month after this easy victory over the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour.

Last year's Deutsches Derby winner had been an uncertain runner in the 2023 Arc, but ultimately took his chance in an attempt to emulate Danedream and Torquator Tasso, previous German-trained winners of the Longchamp showpiece who had been successful in the 1m4f contest at Baden-Baden.

Fantastic Moon weakened in the final furlong at Longchamp last October, finishing 11th behind Ace Impact, but booked a return ticket with this length-and-a-quarter victory over the British raider on good ground.

Lars-Wilhelm Baumgartner, founder of Liberty Racing, the owners of the son of Sea The Moon, confirmed immediately after the race that Paris was once more the target, and Coral cut him to 25-1 (from 33) for the Arc on October 6.

"Our next step is the Arc, and we're very excited about it," said Baumgartner, whose syndicate also campaigns this year's Deutsches Derby winner Palladium.

Trainer Sarah Steinberg was winning the race for the second time in three runnings, having made history as the first woman to train the winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden when Mendocino stunned Torquator Tasso in 2022.

As she attended to Fantastic Moon, leading him around the paved enclosure, she expressed her delight for the four-year-old, who was winning for the second time at the highest level.

"He's a very special horse and it's incredible to win the Grosser Preis for the second time," she said. "I'm so happy for him and delighted he could come back and show how good he is again."

Fantastic Moon, who is now the winner of six Group races, including last year's Prix Niel, sported an unusual piece of equipment, wearing a bright blue cool cap.

Fantastic Moon wins the Grosser Preis von Baden under Rene PiechulekCredit: Sabine Schweitzer (marcruehl.com)

Steinberg explained that she discovered the cap, which is soaked in cold water before placing it on the horse's head, in France and that she uses it to keep her runners cool in sizzling temperatures.

Fantastic Moon wasn't the only one to keep his cool as Rene Piechulek rode a patient race on the colt, settling him out the back of the six-runner field, where he could monitor every move Tom Marquand made on Dubai Honour, winner of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier this season.

The stands' side rail was the favoured spot over the weekend, and Piechulek made a beeline for it as the field rounded the bend into the home straight.

Bauyrzhan Murzabayev had the exact same plan in mind on Narrativo, this year's Group 2 Union-Rennen winner who had been runner-up to Al Riffa in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin the time before.

Narrativo was ahead of Fantastic Moon when both moved to the right and for a moment it looked as if the three-year-old would impede the older horse, but Piechulek manoeuvred him round and he quickly surged into the lead.

Dubai Honour, also the winner of two Group 1s in Australia, was well enough positioned by Marquand on the outside of the field in the middle of the track, but he lacked the finishing kick of Fantastic Moon. He kept on for second, and there were three and a half lengths back to Narrativo in third.

Baumgartner added: "Fantastic Moon is a superstar. He won the Derby for us on this type of ground, he won the Prix Niel on this ground and he needs this ground to perform at his best in the major races. 

"It has been super work from Rene and Sarah, and it was a world-class performance by Rene – just like his winning ride in the Arc on Torquator Tasso."

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.00 Longchamp, October 6)
Coral: 3 Look De Vega, 7 Sosie, 10 Opera Singer, 12 City Of Troy, Delius, Economics, 14 Al Riffa, 16 Los Angeles. Shin Emperor, White Birch, 20 Sparkling Plenty, 25 bar (incl. Fantastic Moon)

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