HRI winner knocks it out of the park with Dundalk treble

Dundalk specialist Alfredo Arcano booked his ticket to Dubai with an eighth win at the Co Louth venue today, as the David Marnane trained gelding provided jockey and recent HRI Award winner Bill Lee with a treble on the evening in the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Handicap.

The son of Arcano was the well supported 6/4 favourite, from 5/2 this morning, and followed up last year's win in the same race when making most to hold the challenge of Arcanears by half a length.

Tonight's win was Alfred Arcano's ninth career success with his only non-Dundalk win coming at the Curragh in June 2018.

Alfredo Arcano had previously failed to place from four starts on the turf at Dubai's Meydan winter series but trainer Marnane today outlined a different plan for his five year old.

The dual-Royal Ascot winning trainer said “he'll go straight to Dubai and it's a new gig obviously running on the dirt but I think, from my experience of it, that if ever there was a European horse for it, it's him.

“We had a good South American horse there last year, Tato Key, and he was very good but he was bred for it.

“This guy is European but he has all the hallmarks as he likes to jump, travel and he finds the line well.

“He'll run on the opening night, it's a Group 3 race over six and we'll see how he gets on.”

Alfredo Arcano's eighth course win at Dundalk leaves him just two winners short of the record for wins at the venue and Marane added “he loves it here. I think the record here is ten and he's on eight now and he's only a young horse.”

Jockey Lee's ride aboard Space Traveller in the Boomerang Stakes on Champions Weekend at Leopardstown last September was voted the best of the year at Tuesday's HRI Awards.

Alfredo Arcano, meanwhile, was a Cuban baseball player in the Cuban League who was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1940.

Quotes from Gary Carson