Mor Spirit dies of colic in South Korea at the age of 13

Less than two months after export to South Korea, father of the fifth harvest Mor Spirit reportedly died on January 2, according to Korea Racing Authority pedigree records. Eskendereya’s son was 13.

Although KRA is not reporting the cause of death, an international blood testing agent familiar with the stallion’s situation who asked not to be identified said the stallion died of colic. This latest bout of colic was reportedly the stallion’s second since arriving in Korea on November 11. Mor Spirit was acquired by the Korea Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, which exhibits its stallions on Jeju Island.

The Elkstone Group bred Mor Spirit in Pennsylvania from the ranked stakes winner I’m a Dixie girl (Dixie Union), whose immediate family also includes the 2015 three-year-old filly Stellar wind grade 1 winner and father Great hunter and Grade 1 seed, Grade 3 winner The creator .

Bernard Schiappa and Michael Lund Petersen purchased Mor Spirit for 2 for $650,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s The Gulfstream Sale 2015 from the Wavertree Stables consignment. He became a Grade 1 winner at 2 for Petersen and trainer Bob Baffert after winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). Mor Spirit raced from 2 to 4, placing first or second in eight categories, including other victories in the 2017 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), the 2016 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and the 2017 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3). He also finished second in the 2016 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Mor Spirit retired with a record of 6-5-0 from 14 starts and earned $1,668,400.

As a stallion, Mor Spirit entered breeding at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington in 2019, where he stood for five seasons before being moved to Swifty Farms in Indiana for two seasons. His first pick included a multiple stakes winner Velocitor who won the Coronation Futurity 2022 at the age of 2 Woodbine and won the Canadian classic Prince of Wales Stakes at the age of 3 Fort Erie. He was among the top 15 by offspring merit as a first-year sire and ranked 16th as a second-crop sire.

Mor Spirit’s star performer, his castrated son Chancheng Glory, was a star in Hong Kong and Korea. Last year he won the Centenary Vase Handicap (G3) at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. He also finished second in the Korea Cup (G3) and came third in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) in 2025. To date, Chancheng Glory has earned over $3 million. Other stakes winners from Mor Spirit include Mor victory , Liberal lady , Mother strength And like you.

To date, Mor Spirit runners have won 423 races and earned $14,819,724 worldwide.