Sent off at odds of 25-1, the Mark Johnston trained The Last Lion led throughout and held his rivals at bay to win the six furlong sprint by three quarters of a length over the favourite Blue Point, a Godolphin runner by Shamardal.
UK Racing Post offered praise for The Last Lion, who has had a busy season racking up four wins and six placings from 10 starts - THE LAST LION led all the way, despite racing into the wind, and willingly fought on from the favourite, who´d beaten him into third at York. He´s proved admirably consistent throughout the season, and it says plenty for his durability that he produced his best performance so far on his tenth start. He´s a sprinter, and Royal Ascot´s Commonwealth Cup picks itself as his target next year .
His trainer Mark Johnston was thrilled with the win coming at the end of such a productive season.
"After the Brocklesby Franny (Norton) said The Last Lion would be far better on faster ground. But if you look at his form behind Yalta at Goodwood (when second in the Molecomb Stakes on good), everybody thought his only chance would be when there is cut in the ground. Here he is, on fast ground, running the race of a lifetime on his tenth start of the year! It is another advert for going on and running them," Johnston said.
Purchased for 82,000 euros from the Goffs Orby Sale, The Last Lion is a sibling
to stakes-winning sprinters Russian Rock and Contest being from the good Group
I placed producer Mala Mala, a half-sister by Brief Truce to Group I winner
Tarascon.This is a family that has made a big impact in Australia and includes and Group I NZ One Thousand Guineas winner Vivacious Spirit and Group winners Serene Majesty and Fravashi.
The Last Lion is one of 77 stakes-winners for Choisir, who sired a smart new stakes-winner at Rosehill on Saturday in Zenalicious. Click here to read about her.
Choisir stands at a fee of $29,700 at Coolmore alongside his champion son Starspangledbanner at $24,750.
His four time Group I wining Irish bred son Olympic Glory (IRE) stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $19,250 and has his first Australian foals on the ground this spring.
