TDN RISING STARS

August 4, 2020 - DEAUVILLE, Race 4, Mdn, EUR €0, , .0000

Midlife Crisis (Fr), C, 2, 2018 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

Owner: Shigeo Nomura
Breeder: -Haras d=Etreham, Meridian International SARL, Cofinvest & Benoit Chalmel (FR)
Trainer: Hiroo Shimizu

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) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) out of an unraced half-sister to G1 Prix Lupin-winning sire Groom Dancer (Blushing Groom {Fr}).