The showcase event during the 2011 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is the $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m), the world’s richest race for juveniles and the Sydney Turf Club’s premier showdown scheduled to take place at Rosehill, Saturday April 2.

Golden Slipper Nominations 2011 closed in mid July last year with a total of 1,735 horses entered for the feature, down from 64 when 1,799 yearlings were nominated for the 2010 edition.

Last year’s Golden Slipper winner was Stratum filly Crystal Lily, and this year 53 runners by Stratum were among the nominees.

Redoute’s Choice was the leading Australian sire among the 2011 Golden Slipper nominations with 90 entries followed by Fastnet Rock (87), Encosta De Lago (63), Flying Spur (60) and More Than Ready (58) who produced 2009 Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready.

Following nomination stage, the 2011 Golden Slipper first acceptances were taken in early October 2010 leaving 1,238 hopefuls heading towards a spot in the Golden Slipper final field.

The list of yearlings will again be cut on Tuesday, 1 February when the 2011 Golden Slipper second acceptances close.

Connections may still chose to enter their horses as a two-year-old as a late Golden Slipper entry up until Monday, 28 March and Races.com.au will keep our readers updated with the Golden Slipper entries.

The final field of acceptances for this year’s Golden Slipper will be then be released on Tuesday, 29 March 2011 and published here.

Notable youngsters among the current list of Golden Slipper entries that have already begun their racing careers include:

• Magic Millions 2YO Guineas winner Karuta Queen who remains unbeaten in her four career starts
• Peter Moody’s Encosta De Lago filly One Last Dance an early favourite for the 2011 Blue Diamond Stakes
• The Peter Snowden-trained Redoute’s Choice filly Glissade
• Chris Waller-trained fillies Ingham Magic and Fast And Sexy
• Mick Price’s unbeaten Dane Shadow filly Holdontoyahorses who has won both of her career starts to date
• The Gerald Ryan-trained Redoute’s Choice colt Godspeed
• David Hayes’ General Nediym filly Fortune Of War still to make her race debut

Futures betting markets on the 2011 Golden Slipper will open at online bookmakers including Luxbet next month so avoid the rush and open you account with them today!