The Last Lion (2c Choisir – Mala Mala, by Brief Truce) produced a career-best performance to land the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

The admirably consistent colt made all under Joe Fanning, who asked his mount to quicken approaching the final furlong, with the bay colt digging deep to hold off the favourite Blue Point by three parts of a length, with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Mehmas in third.

The Middle Park Stakes is The Last Lion’s third black-type victory, with John Brown and Megan Dennis’ juvenile having never finished outside of the first three in all of his ten starts. 

Bred by Barronstown Stud in partnership with Mrs Stack, The Last Lion is the third Stakes horse bred out of Mala Mala, herself placed twice at Group 1 level, while her half-sister Tarascon won both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Cheveley Park Stud Stakes.