OUR RIVER DANCER leads all the way for his 5th career win

“He’s the toughest horse I have ever trained – he just won’t give in,” were the comments of Fortuna’s Malaysian based Trainer, Sharee Hamilton, after OUR RIVER DANCER’s all the way win in the Class 4, 13oo metre event on the Penang track Christmas Day.

Drawn barrier 9 of 1o runners, OUR RIVER DANCER, was quickly into stride and went to the lead as he usually does – setting a solid tempo in the hands of rider S SALEE, he was still leading turning for home but being pressured by race rival, TAFFETAS, who went up to him at the 200 metre mark and briefly headed the grey 6yo Gelding. Indeed, the commentator declared before the runners hit the line that TAFFETAS “was home”, but in his gritty indefatigable style, OUR RIVER DANCER, fought back and went to the line half a length in front of his challenger. Click HERE to see race replay Video.

Hamilton, based in Malaysia since the mid 90’s, is an expat Kiwi, who served as assistant trainer to fellow Kiwi Trainer, John Sargent, during his very successful training stint in Malaysia. It was a family affair for Hamilton as her husband, S SALEE was the winning rider. Christmas Day racing was the last day of the Malaysian racing season with Hamilton finished in 2nd place on the Trainer’s premiership for 2016 season with 56 winners.

OUR RIVER DANCER, who boasts a stout European pedigree (Danehill Dancer – Distinctly – by Sadlers Wells) has now had five career wins, two in Singapore (trained by Mark Walker) and three in Malaysia. He was acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Ltd at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for the sum of NZ$105,000 and is raced by a NZ based Syndicate of nineteen individuals.