By Sean Cronin
Following the precedent set by Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the previous race, Shigeo Nomura's Midlife Crisis (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) posted a more straightforward display to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' badge of his own in Tuesday's Prix Le Bougnat, a 7 1/2-furlong newcomers' test for colts and geldings, at Deauville. The 46-5 chance was away in second and quickly asserted for an early lead. Comfortably holding sway thereafter, he was shaken up in front passing the quarter-mile marker and powered ever clear under mild coaxing in the closing stages to easily outclass Bouttemont (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) by a geared-down five lengths.
“Midlife Crisis is a horse who I hold in very high esteem,” revealed winning trainer Hiroo Shimizu. “In my opinion, he has plenty of room for improvement and is capable of much more. I very much see him as a [G1] Prix du Jockey club horse for next year and the [Oct. 4 G1] Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere [over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp] will be his target this season. He may have another race beforehand, but I keep in mind that he is ground dependent and needs it good or faster.”
Midlife Crisis, half-brother to a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr), is the second foal and scorer out of a winning full-sister to G3 Geelong Cup victor and G1 South Australian Derby placegetter Runaway (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}). His dam The Hunt Is On (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) is also half to G1 AJC Australian Oaks heroine Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), G1 Australasian Oaks victress Abbey Marie (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and to the dam of G2 S A Nursery winner Mount Pleasant (Aus) (Vancouver {Aus}) and Listed Adelaide Guineas third Quantum Mechanic (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}). His second dam Catshaan (Aus) (Catrail) is a half-sister to MG1SW dual Japanese champion Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuki Kiseki {Jpn}) out of an unraced half-sister to G1 Prix Lupin-winning sire Groom Dancer (Blushing Groom {Fr}).
4th-Deauville, €22,000, Mdn, 8-4, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT, 1:34.15, g/s.
MIDLIFE CRISIS (FR), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: The Hunt Is On (Aus), by Manhattan Rain (Aus)
2nd Dam: Catshaan (Aus), by Catrail
3rd Dam: Keltshaan, by Pleasant Colony
1ST-TIME STARTER. Sales history: €120,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €11,000. O-Shigeo Nomura; B-Haras d'Etreham, Meridian International SARL, Cofinvest & Benoit Chalmel (FR); T-Hiroo Shimizu. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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