The Last Lion To Kildangan in 2017

The Last Lion | Racing Post

G1 Middle Park S. winner The Last Lion (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}–Mala Mala {Ire}, by Brief Truce), the winner of the G1 Middle Park S. Sept. 24, has been purchased by Godolphin and will take up stud duties at Kildangan Stud in 2017.

An €82,000 Goffs Orby yearling purchase by trainer Mark Johnston, The Last Lion endured a busy juvenile campaign for owners John Brown and Megan Dennis, hitting the board in all 10 starts. A debut winner at Doncaster Apr. 2, the chestnut finished second in Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk S. before recording his first black-type win in the July 1 Dragon S. at Sandown. He was placed in the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 Flying Childers S. either side of a win in the G3 Sirenia S. Sept. 3, and hit a career high when besting his Gimcrack conqueror Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Middle Park. That win saw The Last Lion placed equal with Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) on official ratings, and he is rated higher than the last Middle Park winner to retire at the end of his 2-year-old career, the now-successful sire Dark Angel (Ire). The Last Lion's dam, a dual Group 1-placed juvenile, is a half-sister to champion 2-year-old filly and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Tarascon (Ire) (Tirol {Ire}) as well as Group 2 winner Mister Monet (Ire) (Peintre Celebre).

“The Last Lion is a good-looking horse who was an extremely tough and precocious performer,” said Sam Bullard, director of Darley stallions. “He put up a truly outstanding performance to win the G1 Middle Park S. from a top field. To get out early and progress all season long as he did shows a real love of the game, and if he transmits that and his durability to his stock, he will be a valuable addition to the stallion ranks.”

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