Dubawi heads National Stakes

Dubawi will start a short-priced favorite at The Curragh on Sunday when he meets three Aidan O'Brien-trained foes in the Group 1 National Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Dubawi comes off a victory in Newmarket's Group 3 Superlative Stakes over the same seven-furlong distance as the $366,000 National.

O'Brien's colt Russian Blue has been third in a pair of Group 1's, but the other two O'Brien runners, In Exclesis and Rowan Tree, appear overmatched.

* The so-called Arc Trial, a 1 3/8-mile Group 3 at Newbury on Friday, was won by the 3-1 favorite, Sights on Gold, who defeated Imperial Dancer by a length. Simon Crisford, racing manager for Sights on Gold's owner, Godolphin, ruled out an Arc start for the horse.