After two minor wins early in the year he recorded his first important success in the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy before taking the Grade I Yasuda Kinen.

Maurice's dam Mejiro Frances showed no ability on the track, failing to win or place in eight starts, but has produced three minor winners.

After a break of almost eight months, Maurice returned to win the Wakashio Sho at Nakayama in January and added a victory in the Spica Stakes at the same track in March.

The colt was then moved up in class for the Grade III Lord Derby Challenge Trophy, a handicap race over 1600 metres at Nakayama on 5 April.

He accelerated in the straight as the leaders tired, took the lead 1000 metres from the finish and won by one and a quarter lengths and a neck from Fiero and Isla Bonita.

[12] Ryan Moore commented "I knew that he was probably going to be the best miler in the race and it was just a question of getting a clean trip and hopefully if we kept things straight forward, he would be able to show that he's the best horse, and he did.

For his final appearance of the season, Maurice was sent to contest the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse on 13 December and started second favourite behind the outstanding local miler Able Friend with Fiero and Danon Platina (Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes) accompanying him on the trip from Japan.

Europe was represented by Esoterique, Toormore, the Premio Vittorio di Capua winner Red Dubawi and the Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Mondialiste.

He sustained his first defeat for more than two years as he fought against Berry's attempts to restrain him in the early stages and was beaten one and a quarter lengths by the six-year-old Logotype.

"[18] Ridden by Ryan Moore he started favourite against fourteen opponents including A Shin Hikari, Lovely Day, Real Steel (Dubai Turf) and Logotype.

He joined the leaders 300 metres out and drew ahead to win by one and a half lengths from the fast-finishing Real Steel with Staphanos taking third place.

"[19] Maurice and Moore where reunited when the horse made what was expected to be his final racecourse appearance in the Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres at Sha Tin on 11 December.

Maurice began to make progress in the last quarter mile, overtook A Shin Hikari inside the final furlong and quickened away to win by three lengths.

In the poll for Japanese Horse of the Year he received 215 of the 291 votes to take the title ahead of Lovely Day, Duramente and Kitasan Black.

He was also named Best Sprinter or Miler with 243 votes, ahead of the mare Straight Girl but in the poll for Best Older Male Horse he was beaten 174-114 by Lovely Day.

[25] In the JRA Awards for 2016 Maurice finished runner-up in the polling for three separate categories- Horse of the Year, Best Older Male and Best Sprinter or Miler.