The 2011 Golden Slipper is the premier race held during the annual Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival as it is the richest race for two-year-old thoroughbreds in the world, and this year the $3.5 million feature will take place at Rosehill Racecourse on Saturday April 2, 2011.

Golden Slipper Day is a day for racing purists with an elite-line up of events headlined by the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), and 2011 Golden Slipper betting will open at online bookmakers including Luxbet next month.

Other excellent races on the 2011 Golden Slipper Stakes Day programme that also provide great betting opportunities include the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m), $400,000 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), $400,000 Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1500m) and the $400,000 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

The Golden Slipper Stakes field attracts the season’s finest juveniles, many that have come via the tradition Slipper lead-up events during the autumn.

Fillies have the option of running in Group 2 Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19 and the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) on March 26 on way to the Golden Slipper, while colts and geldings often contest the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m) or the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) held at the same meets as the fillies’ equivalent races.

These four races all earn the winner a Golden Slipper ballot exemption and are great races in their own right that feature competitive fields and top betting markets.

Another ideal preparatory run for Golden Slipper hopefuls is the earlier Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 26 where an open field of two-year-olds face off.

Last year’s Golden Slipper winner was Crystal Lily who came into the race following back-to-back wins in the Listed Chairman’s Stakes (1100m) and then the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).

Decision Time, runner-up to Crystal Lily in the 2010 Golden Slipper, was coming off a second place finish in the Todman Stakes while third placegetter More Strawberries had previously run second in the Magic Night Stakes.

Other recent Golden Slipper winners include Phelan Ready who took out Magic Millions 2YO Classic / Golden Slipper double in 2009, Sebring in 2008 who continued on to win the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick and 2007 winner Forensics.

This year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Karuta Queen is already a warm favourite to complete the double Phelan Ready did in 2009 becoming just the third horse in history to win the Magic Millions Classic and Golden Slipper as a two-year-old.

The 2011 Golden Slipper final field will be released on Tuesday, 29 March and published here at Races.com.au.

We will also be the first to publish the 2011 Golden Slipper barrier draw, form guide and continually provide our readers with the best Golden Slipper betting tips and promos.

Stay tuned for the comprehensive 2011 Golden Slipper Stakes coverage and in the meantime get ready to jump on the generous early Golden Slipper odds at Luxbet by opening an account with Australia’s leading online bookmaker today!