A stakes race in Sydney could make as big an impact on Caulfield Guineas markets as two key lead-up races in Melbourne this weekend.

The Bill Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley and Sunday’s Caulfield Guineas Prelude will feature 10 of the top 11 chances in pre-post Guineas betting.

The missing piece of the puzzle is Scissor Kick who will tackle Saturday’s Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in a bid to emulate the feat last achieved by Lonhro who won the Stan Fox-Caulfield Guineas double in 2001.

Desperately unlucky in the Golden Rose, Scissor Kick defied a wide run to hit the front, only to be mowed down late by Hallowed Crown.

His Golden Rose performance followed successive victories in The Rosebud and the Up And Coming Stakes, leaving owner John Messara in no doubt he’s a top class racehorse.

“Obviously he’s a Group One horse, we just have to find the right race for him,” Messara said.

Connections have pinpointed the Caulfield Guineas as the race that could secure the superbly bred colt’s future at stud.

Despite his rich vein of form he is a $12 chance for the Group One, although that quote is likely to shorten significantly if he confirms a Melbourne trip by winning the Stan Fox.

His biggest threat is expected to come from Golden Rose third placegetter Shooting To Win who also remains in Guineas contention.

A $26 chance for the Melbourne feature, his co-trainer Paul Snowden says Shooting To Win would have to all but topple Scissor Kick on Saturday to be considered for the Guineas.

“He’s a very talented horse, he’s just starting to put it together on race day,” Snowden said.

“Scissor Kick is the benchmark horse of the carnival so far up there, so he needs to knock him off first.”