Carpe Diem is a German-bred Hanoverian gelding born in 2010 by the leading sire Contendro I out of a mare by Escudo I. He was acquired from a Brightwells Auction as a four-year-old. He quickly earned the nickname of Demon due to being sharp and spooky although is now described as her -one-in-a-million horse. He has been produced by Helen and the pair won the international 3* at Nunney in 2021 and completed its first 5* in 2023.