The richest race meeting of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, Golden Slipper Day 2011, is taking place at Rosehill tomorrow and one of the most anticipated showdowns on the card is the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m).

Scheduled as Rosehill Race 5 at 2:25pm (AEDST) on Saturday, the 2011 The BMW is the sole weight-for-age race run over 2400m in Australia and has drawn a star-studded field of 11 stayers.

Pronounced favourite in The BMW horse racing odds is last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday.

Currently at a quote of $2.90 having drifted out slightly from their opening price of $2.70, Zabeel four-year-old Maluckyday is set to jump from barrier one tomorrow and will be ridden by Jim Cassidy.

The well-bred stayer enjoyed a sensational spring campaign that included three consecutive wins and a gallant second to Americain in his first Group 1 assignment, the Melbourne Cup.

Maluckyday resumed this season with a first up fourth to Danleigh in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm and ran fourth again second-up in the Group 1 Ranvent Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 19.

Dropping back slightly in the weights tomorrow and stepping up to the ideal distance of 2400m brings Maluckyday right into contention to become the 2011 The BMW winner.

The Races.com.au team are tipping the favourite and think the class and distance will see Maluckyday through in Rosehill Race 5 tomorrow.

2011 The BMW Betting Tips – Rosehill Race 5

• 1^st: #8 Maluckyday – Rated Special To Win

Boasts the equal best Win Rate of 45% along with Laristan.

Unbeaten at this distance having won the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup over 2400m at Randwick by 4 ½ lengths last October.

Should settle closer to the leaders this time round having drawn the inside barrier.

Set to improve from first two runs this season over more ground and a less slippery track.

• 2^nd: #6 Descarado

Close $3.60 second favourite in The BMW betting this year is Gai Waterhouse’s Caulfield Cup winner Descarado.

Coming off a devastatingly narrow defeat in the Ranvet Stakes last start, Descarado took out the 2010 Caulfield Cup over this distance, is drawn ideally in barrier seven and will be ridden by Nash Rawiller.

At his only other start over the 2400m, Descarado ran second in the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby last April, so this distance looks good for him third-up.

Handles Slow – Heavy track so tip if more rain.

• 3^rd: #1 Zavite

$101 roughie that scored an upset win in the Ranvet Stakes last start, Anthony Cummings’ rising nine-year-old is a tough old stayer that has the grit to run well again and finish in the money here.

Ran second to Littorio in this race 12 months ago and showed he was back in form with the Ranvet win.

Out wide in barrier 10, but has Glen Boss aboard and if any hoop knows how to win a Group 1 at the moment Boss is it.

• 4^th: #7 Linton

Lloyd Williams’ up-and-coming Galileo four-year-old, Linton has been one of the best backed runners in The BMW betting.

“In the BMW Stakes early action has been with the Lloyd Williams owned Linton,” Luxbet’s Bookmaker Paul Vincent revealed exclusively to Races.com.au.

“(Linton) has firmed from $6.50 into $5.50 with bets of 10k @ $4.80 and 12k @ $4.60 to name a few.”

The promising grey has drawn ideally in barrier four, is coming off a second to former Melbourne Cup winner Shocking in the Group 2 Australian Cup (2000m) and has a won over this distance before in last year’s Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

The BMW is one of five Group 1 features running at Rosehill tomorrow, the best of which is the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).