In 1996, Marion and Philipp Stauffenberg started to breed under the name GRAF UND GRĂ„FIN STAUFFENBERG and boarded their mares and youngstock mainly in Ireland and the UK. But in 1999 they turned their dream into reality and set up their own breeding operation at SCHLOSSGUT ITLINGEN.
Philipp grew up
with horses and used to be a passionate show jumper until he
fell in love with thoroughbred breeding and racing. He was
active in leading positions at various stud farms
since 1985 and now acts as the manager of the
breeding operation. Marion on the other hand was an
active dressage rider and got her passion for
thoroughbreds and racing from her father, who was the
publisher of German racing newspaper "Sport Welt".
She started racing horses under her own name in 1989 and
bred her first horse in 1993. Today, Marions and
Philipps horses race under the original champagne and
bordeaux racing colours designed by Marions
father.
Quality over
quantity
With this approach,
Philipp and Marion have developed a selected band of
broodmares. Their offspring are sold at all the major sales in
Europe, whilst some fillies are retained to continue
breeding with their most successful families. The
number of broodmares ranges around ten and are mainly homebred, some in third generation
already. Together Marion and Philipp have raced and/or bred a
number of champions over the years: Classic winners
CENTAINE and QUE BELLE, as well as FOUR SINS and LADY MARIAN, and most recently the 2023 German Derby winner FANTASTIC MOON.