Tony McEvoy’s promising European import Le Roi is gearing up for their biggest test since joining the Angaston-based trainer’s operation early last year in this Saturday’s The BMW 2013, the Sydney Cup bound galloper one of the early market movers for the Golden Slipper Day showdown.

Sydney Cup-bound Le Roi is at a nice price in The BMW 2013 odds for Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The lightly-raced Areion four-year-old had just the one run in France in September of 2011 winning over 1800m on debut before being transferred to Australia.

They have had seven starts since for four wins across three states, their most notable effort so far being their Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m) success at Rosehill on Boxing Day last summer.

Le Roi resumed for the autumn on March 23 back at Rosehill Racecourse where they ran a credible third behind another European expat, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Julienas, in the Listed Sky High Stakes (1900m).

This weekend they go up in distance again getting back to the mile and a half for one of the biggest events on the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m).

The form on their Sky High second was further validated last Saturday with Julienas backing up to win the Listed NE Manion Cup (2400m) by nearly two lengths boosting McEvoy’s confidence for Saturday.

“I was very pleased with his first up effort when he got home well, as they didn’t go that hard,” McEvoy said.

“Julienas franked the form with a strong staying effort on Saturday and we’ll be so much better at this journey.”

There are 12 acceptors for this year’s The BMW, Le Roi drawing an inside gate with barrier two and Glyn Schofield, aboard for their two most recent runs, retaining the ride.

It is a talented The BMW 2013 field on Saturday with the early bookmaker.com.au markets led by last year’s Victoria Derby champ Fiveandahalfstar ($3).

Other top fancies include upset Ranvet Stakes winner Foreteller ($7), 2010 Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday ($7) and the progressive German import Hathras ($7.50).

Further down The BMW betting markets punters will find Le Roi at a quote of $21 having firmed in from their opening price of $26.

They could prove a very nice smokey chance too from their barrier with McEvoy confident the pace will suit.

“He needs a good pace and we should get it with Hathras and Fiveandahalfstar’s in the race,” he said.

“This is a big step up for us but he’s a very talented horse and these are the type of races we bought him to be contesting.”

Le Roi, like a number of the other The BMW runners, is heading towards the $500,000 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 27.

They are currently rated a $21 chance also in the Sydney Cup odds which are led by the horse they were beaten by first-up, Julienas on $5.

To get behind Le Roi for either The BMW this weekend or the upcoming Sydney Cup 2013 head over to our preferred online betting agency bookmaker.com.au who are dishing up all the hottest odds this season!