Moonhak Chief Named Korean Horse of the Year

In a season of notable firsts for horse racing in Korea, the history-making Moonhak Chief (Pioneerof the Nile) was named the nation's Horse of the Year in ceremonies held Thursday evening. It was the second year-end title for the colt, who was Korea's champion 2-year-old colt of 2017.

A graduate of the 2016 Keeneland September sale and bred in Kentucky by White Fox Farm, Moonhak Chief made eight trips to the post for five wins in 2019, becoming the first locally based runner to win the valuable Listed Keeneland Korea Cup (1800m) in September (see below). He closed the season, and ultimately cemented his case for Horse of the Year, with a 1 1/2-length success in the Dec. 8 Listed Grand Prix S. (2300m) (video).

Two of Moonhak Chief's three losses came at the hands of Dolkong (Afleet Alex), who made history of his own when scooping the Listed Curlin H. and when third in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge-R3 at Meydan last winter. Dolkong was absent from the Grand Prix and misses a return trip to Dubai via injury.

Blue Chipper (Tiznow) lost out on Horse of the Year honors, but was recognized with a 'Special Award' for his 2019 endeavors. The 4-year-old formed the front end of a home-team sweep in September, winning the Listed Keeneland Korea Sprint from a high draw (video), and was ambitiously pointed for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Prominent throughout the running, he stayed on extremely well for third behind Spun On the Run (Hard Spun) and Omaha Beach (War Front).

Both Moonhak Chief and Blue Chipper are part of a six-strong Korean contingent for the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Korean-bred Horse of the Year honors fell to New Legend (Kor), a son of the departed Menifee and Kota (Smarty Jones), who made the first seven starts of his career in the U.S., graduating at Arlington last summer. The 4-year-old won half of his eight starts in 2019 and is also wintering in Dubai this year.

WATCH: Moonhak Chief makes history in the Keeneland Korea Cup