As a yearling in September 2015 The Last Lion was consigned by the Glenvale Stud to the Goffs Orby sale and was bought for 82,000 euros by the trainer Mark Johnston.

[5] She was descended from the Irish broodmare Ballisland (foaled in 1946) who was the female-line ancestor of several other major winners including Al Hareb, Muhaarar and Relkino.

Ridden by Franny Norton he took the lead before half way, went clear of his opponents a furlong out before being eased down in the closing stages to win by one and three quarter lengths from the filly Simmy's Temple.

The Wesley Ward-trained filly Create A Dream led from the start and although The Last Lion made steady progress he failed by a neck to overhaul the American challenger with Deningy a short head back in third.

Joe Fanning took over from Norton when The Last Lion contested a five furlong race at Beverley Racecourse on 28 May and finished second of the six runners behind Prince of Lir.

Norton was back in the saddle when the colt was dropped to Listed class for the five-furlong Dragon Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse in 1 July.

[8] In the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on 27 July he was beaten three lengths by his less-fancied stablemate Yalta, with the favourite Global Applause in third place.

Two weeks after his run in the Gimcrack, The Last Lion started second favourite for the Group Three Sirenia Stakes over six furlongs on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Kempton Park Racecourse.

On his final appearance of the year, The Last Lion was stepped up to Group One class for the first time and started a 25/1 outsider for the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 24 September.

[12] Mark Johnston commented "He's a fantastic horse, and it's a fairy story right from the beginning because many years ago we had Mister Monet here for the Champion Stakes and he broke his leg and didn't make it.

[13] In the official European Classification of two-year-olds for 2016 The Last Lion was given a rating of 116, making him the fifth best juvenile colt of the season, six pounds behind the top-rated Churchill.