Kiwi stayer Sir Charles Road remains in contention for a Melbourne Cup start despite a setback costing him his chance to contest next week’s Caulfield Cup.

It is a very open 2018 ATC Australian Derby at Randwick on Saturday with 18 to run.

The focus of an international thoroughbred operation with a major New Zealand presence will centre on Sydney this weekend.

A capacity field lines up in the group one Rosehill Guineas with the kiwi’s likely to again play a major role.

The Sydney autumn carnival has become a rite of passage for the leading New Zealand three-year-olds amd is set to continue at Rosehill on Saturday.