27 September 2023 , 12:39
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The former agent of Premier League stars Nemanja Vidic and Sadio Mane has paid £100,000 to take a shot at the £4.5 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
German Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, 52, represented over 500 footballers through his agency Arena 11 as well as the tennis star Angelique Kerber, the Wimbledon singles champion in 2018.
Now he is a businessman whose syndicate ownership venture Liberty Racing own top four-legged talent, the best of which Fantastic Moon was supplemented on Wednesday for Europe’s richest race.
Fantastic Moon, trained by Sarah Steinberg and to be ridden by Arc-winning jockey Rene Piechulek, won the German Derby in July and then beat one of France’s leading Arc hopes Feed The Flame in the Prix Niel last month.
He was not expected to run at Paris-Longchamp because the meeting is usually staged on soft ground but dry weather prompted a change of plan for the 14-1 chance.
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“We thought long and hard and together with the trainer and the jockey we decided against a long trip to the Breeders’ Cup or Japan Cup for a three-year-old colt.” said Baumgarten
“He has given us so much fun winning the German Derby and the Prix Niel and we wanted to keep something for next year.” It promises to be a huge weekend for Baumgarten and the 22 shareholders of Fantastic Moon.
Another of the syndicate’s other horses, German Derby fourth Winning Spirit, will be one of the star auction lots at the Arqana Arc sale on Saturday night while German Oaks winner Muskoka, who Baumgarten also bred, contests the Prix de ‘l’Opera.
Sadio Mane: former client of the owner of Arc challenger Fantastic Moon (Getty Images)One of the filly’s owners is former client and Hoffenheim footballer Nick Proschwitz, who spent three years in England playing for Hull, Barnsley, Brentford and Coventry.
“I sold my company seven years ago and I work in real estate and start-ups now,” said Baumgarten. “I was an agent for over 18 years to the tennis player Angelique Kerber and 500 soccer players. Twenty years as an agent was enough.
“Nemanja Vidic and Sadio Mane were the most famous clients. I think Vidic was our best player, together with Sadio Mane in the Premier League.”
He added: “It’s a very exciting story this year for me and a nice story for German racing. One of the shareholders in Fantastic Moon owned Danedream. Hopefully he can bring a bit of winning energy.”