Hong Kong Champion jockey Zac Purton is playing a pivotal role in the fortunes of Kiwi runners in this year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.

They may be 18,000km apart, but Legarto’s win in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) brought Warwick and Alice Jeffries a lot closer on Saturday.

The Australian Cup remains firmly on the agenda for Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) who will make his second autumn appearance on Saturday.

Adrian Bott has cautioned punters to forgive Cross Talk’s (NZ) (Keano) first-up defeat as an odds-on favourite, convinced the gelding can rebound in the Gr.3 Newcastle Stakes.

Ken Kelso will attempt to break a long-standing hoodoo when he saddles Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Australian punters will get their first look at Kiwi sprinter Imperatriz when she lines-up in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.

New Zealand-bred filly Marble Arch continued her unbeaten run in Australia when victorious in the A$300,000 Future Stars Final (1400m) at Pakenham on Thursday.

Usually more at home on a wetter track, the firmer going at Newcastle proved to be no obstacle to Cross Talk (NZ) (Keano) winning the Gr.3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on Friday.

There are bigger and better things in store for up-and-coming stayer So Unusual, who scored a remarkable come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$150,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Tenders Open (2500m) at Flemington.

Exceptional filly Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) overcame a nightmare run down the Flemington straight to deliver a first New Zealand triumph in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m).