ARAZAN IS on course for what could turn out to be a momentous Bank of Scotland National Stakes at the Curragh next month.

The John Oxx-trained colt is a general 12 to 1 shot for next year's 2,000 Guineas following his four-length success in last Saturday's Futurity at the Curragh, and Oxx has confirmed that the National will be Arazan's next start.

That opens up the possibility of a clash with the cream of Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old crop which contains the current Guineas favourite, Mastercraftsman, as well as the Tyros winner Rip Van Winkle.

"Arazan is fine and didn't have a hard race, although conditions were tough enough," Oxx said. "It didn't take anything out of him and he lost little or no weight. The National Stakes is the obvious target for him."

"We have no fixed plan.We might stop at that or have one more run, but that would be the maximum.

"Arazan is a miler, I'd say. He is by Anabaa, who basically gets sprinters and milers," added the Curragh trainer.

Another Oxx Classic prospect for 2009 is Galileo's half-brother Sea The Stars, a 25 to 1 shot for Epsom, who, like Arazan, also holds a National entry as well being in the list for the Beresford Stakes.

"They are owned by different people so that wouldn't be a factor. We will just have to see if the National is right for each horse," Oxx said. "Galileo is by Sadler's Wells while this horse is by Cape Cross. I wouldn't be absolutely certain he will stay, but I think he probably will."

Sea The Stars impressively won his maiden at Leopardstown earlier this month.