The three-year-old, who was on the second line of betting for the feature, will now be saved until the $2.25 million The BMW at the same track next weekend.

Trainer Anthony Cummings made the decision to scratch Fiveandahalfstar after his morning gallop on Friday revealed the talented stayer was not yet fully recovered from his gut-buster second placing in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes last Saturday.

“Once I decided to gallop him today it put tomorrow out of the question,” Cummings said.

Fiveandahalfstar has been scratched from today's Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

“I am thinking his gallop this morning and another one on Sunday will probably get him to where he needs to be without having to worry about running on Saturday.”

His withdrawal from the Rosehill Guineas field has left It’s A Dundeel as the uncontested $1.40 favourite for the $500,000 race, which now has just eight runners.

Fiveandahalfstar has won three of his 19 race starts and has earned more than $1.3 million in prize money.

The Victorian Derby winner has struggled to claim a win this autumn, finishing second in all four of his race starts.

With the Hotel Grand gelding out of the race, jockey Craig Newitt’s confidence has risen even higher with his runner Hvasstan.

“I’ve got a lot of time for him,” Newitt said.

“My first ride on him was in the Australian Guineas where he was the best run in the race by a hundred yards, and then he came out and franked the form by winning the Alister Clark.

“All reports are he’s improved again.”

Hvasstan won his last start in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes and will be out to claim his first Group 1 win in today’s Rosehill Guineas.

Hvasstan lived up to stable expectation and responded under hard riding from Craig Newitt to forge away close to the line to beat the fast finishing Philippi by a length with Sheer Talent battling away on the fence to hold on for a close third.

Peter Gelagotis’ brother Manny, who races Hvasstan with a large group of friends expected the three year to win and the Fastnet Rock colt didn’t let the team down.

“We thought he had to come here and win and win well,” Gelagotis said.

“And, that’s what he did.

“The world is his oyster. He is a good horse and tonight wasn’t a surprise, he was favourite and he was entitled to be favourite.

“He switches off – that’s his biggest asset. He doesn’t spend any money in the run.

“He is a good horse, people need to realise that.”

Peter Gelagotis wanted to see how Hvasstan pulled up after his tough win but was then quick to announce that the team would be heading to Sydney for the Group 1 $500,000 M. J. Bale Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 30 and then onto to the Group 1 $1.5m David Jones Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 13.

“The Rosehill Guineas looks perfect for him,” Gelagotis said.

“He showed in the spring he was up to Derby class, so we’ll have that in mind, but only if he shows us that’s where he should go.”

Hvasstan had shown in the Spring that he was competitive at Group 1 level with a fourth to Fiveandahalfstar and Super Cool in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington and ran a creditable fourth after blowing the start in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.

The Spring form was made to look good when Super Cool gained the upper hand on Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar with the two classy three year olds quinellaing the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington last week.

Hvasstan was sent out the $2.90 favourite on the strength of his luckless Australian Guineas fourth with Philippi at $3.70 and third placegetter Sheer Talent also in the betting at $4.

Shamexpress claims a last stride win in the Newmarket Handicap. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

In a race that has been dominated but highly weighted horses over the last few years, Shamexpress was able to grab favourite Moment Of Change right on the line to score an upset win.

Sydney four year old Aeronautical and Undeniably put plenty of value into the multiples finishing third and fourth.

Newitt, who won the 2007 Newmarket on Miss Andretti,  was happy to sit off the pace when Moment Of Change was forced into the pace maker role and looked the likely winner after skipping clear at the 400m, but Shamexpress was able to gather momentum down the middle of the track to gain victory.

“I come here today pretty confident he would run extremely well,” Newitt said.

“He was the forgotten horse really cause his trial here on Tuesday was there for everyone to see.”

“He went equally if not better than the other three year old, he was all the talk but I knew my bloke would launch and that was exactly what he did.”

Queensland three year old Better Than Ready started the second favourite but after Craig Williams asked for a final effort at the 300m, he faded to miss a place.

Winning trainer Danny O’Brien was happy to forgive Shamexpress’ last start failure in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 behind Black Caviar and was expecting the O’Reilly colt to be competitive.

“It’s been a long range plan since Coolmore day. He’s come here in great shape and we got the right ride today,” O’Brien said.

“He was too close the other day and Craig just produced him beautifully today and he really let go like a top class Group 1 sprinter.”

“That’s the secret, just to get a little bit of cover on him early. He wanted to charge early but fortunately he buried him and when he did see the daylight he really let go.”

Shamexpress started at the good odds of $15, beating the $3.20 favouirte Moment Of Change by a short half head with a similar margin to Aeronautical ($81) in third place, with $41 chance Undeniably three lengths away in fourth spot.

The Kelly Schweida trained Better Than Ready was well supported to start $4.20 and wound up in fifth position.

Samaready set to resume in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Price had originally pencilled in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington this Saturday because the filly had been going so well in her preparation but Vinery Stud General Manager Peter Orton opted to abort a clash with Black Caviar first up.

“It was decided after talking with Mick Price that we didn’t want to run her in a 1000 metre sprint against Black Caviar after not racing for a while,” Orton said.

“There’s a hell of a lot of racing in front of her and the Typhoon Tracy is against her own sex at Listed level which we thought was the right stepping stone for her to let us know where she is at.”

Price and Orton will wait until after the Typhoon Tracy Stakes before committing to a definite Autumn program but a run in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 could still be on the agenda if Samaready performs well at her first run for six months.

“From that if she’s brilliant then you can look at a Newmarket,” Orton said.

“We think she looks more like a 1400-1600 metre filly the way she’s bred and finishes her races off but we don’t know that yet. Races like the Coolmore (1500m) and Queen of the Turf (1500m) in Sydney could be on the radar as could the Robert Sangster in Adelaide (1200m).

“There’s an enormous amount of opportunities for a filly at her level so it’s really just about her having a run and letting us know where she’s at.”

Samaready has pleased Price and regular rider Craig Newitt in two jump out wins at Cranbourne and Caulfield after she was sent to the spelling paddock after only one appearance in the Spring which saw the More Than Ready filly run below par when fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said after Samaready’s Caulfield jump out win last week.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the  favourite but could only finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Samaready will resume racing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Samaready, who has been away from the racetrack for more than six months, has continued to improve over the last couple of weeks and today’s jump out win followed a similar display at Cranbourne last week which  impressed jockey Craig Newitt.

“She feels like the two-year-old we knew last year,” Newitt said last week.

And trainer Mick Price is also excited that his top line filly is finally ready to compete again.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said.

“The track was a bit choppy, especially after they got to the fifth trial of the morning.

“She’ll go into the Lightning Stakes in good order. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult for her but she’s in good shape for it.”

Price was referring to the fact that rival Caulfield trainer Peter Moody has earmarked the race named after his mighty mare Black Caviar also as the race her return to the racetrack.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the Golden Slipper favourite.

Newitt, who had partnered the filly in all her races, had to bring Samaready from worse than midfield on the home turn before running home to finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Samaready only made one appearance in the Spring before Price sent her back to the spelling paddock when all was not well after the filly was a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Price is undecided where Samaready will go after the Lightning with the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 an option or he could turn his attention to the sprints over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Price suggests that the Group 1 $350,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 30 would be a suitable race for the More Than Ready filly.

“She’s shown already that racing on her Sydney leg is no problem,” Price said.

“A race like The Galaxy could be a good one for her. Under handicap conditions, that race might turn out to be her best chance of winning another Group I.”

Newitt was aboard Samaready when she won a Cranbourne jump out on Tuesday morning and declared that the three year old is ready to kick off a successful Autumn campaign.

“She feels like the two-year-old we knew last year,” Newitt said.

The Mick Price trained filly hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the Golden Slipper favourite.

Newitt, who had partnered the filly in all her races, had to bring Samaready for worse than midfield on the hometurn before running home to finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Price was looking forward to a great Spring but had to send Samaready back to the spelling paddock when all was not well after the filly was a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Conor Phelan, representing owners Vinery Stud indicated that Samaready was ready to begin her Autumn campaign now that she has shown that she is back on track with the easy jump out win.

“A decision was made to give her a proper spell and target the autumn carnival rather than try and play catch-up after the first-up effort,” Phelan said.

“She had three months in the paddock and on the evidence of the jump-out it looks as though the right decision was made.”

“We still aren’t sure on a start date in Melbourne but she will be coming to Sydney with the Coolmore and Queen Of The Turf logical options.”

“There was every intention that she would race over a mile last spring and while it didn’t eventuate, the 1500m at Rosehill should be ideal as a stronger three-year-old filly.”

Price hasn’t made a final decision if Samaready will take on Black Caviar in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 or wait another week for the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

The Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 23 and the Group 1 $400,000  Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 6 look ideal races for the More Than Ready filly.

Clevadude will spell after a disappointing run in the Magic Millions Classic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Hore-Lacy is considering a three month break for the youngster and thinks he will be right for the Melbourne Spring Carnivalas a three year old.

“We’ll probably give him three months in the paddock and I’d say that’d mean he’d probably race again around July and before you know it you’re into the Spring,” Hore –Lacy said.

Clevadude was sent out the $5 second favourite behind Missy Longstocking ($4.60) but after blowing the start, was always well back in the sixteen horse field and was unable to make up any ground in the straight for Craig Newitt and could only beat two runners home in the 2yo Classic to finish fourteenth behind Real Surreal.

Hore-Lacy and Newitt were confident that Clevadude would be able to use his early speed to cross from a wide alley after leading all the way to score an easy win over 1000m at Moonee Valley the start before but lost all chance when stepping away slowly.

But things went wrong right from the start and as well as not figuring in the finish, Clevadude pulled up suffering from heat stress with Hore-Lacy also detecting some swelling in his near side front joint.

“The horse is fine but he’s going to have to go to the paddock I think, I’m not happy with his near-side joint he’s got a bit of filling in it,” Hore-Lacy said.

“He’s not lame but I was looking for an excuse to put him out anyway so he won’t go on this preparation.

Newitt reported to stewards after the race that after missing the start Clevadude wasn’t at all comfortable on the tight Gold Coast track and as well as not showing his customary speed got on the wrong leg approaching  the first turn.

“The horse was fractious in the barriers and was slow to begin,” Newitt said.

After the weekend’s disappointment, Hore –Lacy said that he would be reluctant to bring another two year old up from Melbourne to the Gold Coast to race in the heat over the Magic Millions Carnival.

“It’s such a tight turning track and you wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for that race,” he said.

“It’s hot and humid and the horses don’t like it, I’d think twice about bringing a horse up there again from Melbourne.”

Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Real Surreal will also be sent straight to the paddock but racegoers will probably get a chance to see the Royal Saga filly race during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Trainer Kelso Wood has decided to bypass the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6 with Real Surreal in favour of the Group 1 $500,000 Patinack Farm T J Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

Clevadude has drawn wide in barrier 18 for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Rick Hore-Lacy youngster came up with barrier eighteen in the original draw but will start from gate fourteen after the scratchings of the emergencies and Newitt will need more than a little bit of luck to take up a good position in the sixteen horse field in the run to the first turn.

“We’ve got barrier eighteen and are going to have to rely on a little bit of luck,” Newitt said.

But Newitt is still quietly confident that he has the goods in Clevadude and if the Bel Esprit youngster can reproduce his trademark speed and cross the field before the first bend, he thinks he is a great chance of taking out the two year old Classic.

“I think if my bloke does everything right I think Assail is the only horse that can beat me,” Newitt said.

“It doesn’t get much worse than 18 but you’ve just got to try to pull a couple of positives out of it.”

“But if he does jump cleanly I’m pretty confident he’s got the speed to get across.”

Newitt agrees with the price assessors that the Clarry Conners trained Assail will be the hardest to beat jumping from the inside gate and will take up a handy position while Clevadude’s fate will be known after the filed hits the first turn.

“I would say you would know his chances after about 50 to 100 metres,” Newitt said.

“Obviously if he doesn’t begin well we’ll have to ride him a bit quieter and he’ll need a world of luck.

Hore-Lacy isn’t as confident as Newitt and agrees that the punters are on the right track with Assail firming in the betting and says that it will be hard for his horse to beat Clarry Conners’ filly.

“It’s going to make it more difficult. My money would be on Clarry’s horse. I think at 6-4 in the old, she’s good value,” Hore-Lacy said.

“I was thinking we would win the race, but now I’m just going in hoping.”

Local fillies Missy Longstocking, barrier four, and Real Surreal, barrier 3, look the best of the local two year olds while Gai Waterhouse was out of luck at the barrier draw with Sweet Idea coming up with gate thirteen and Certitude fairing worse at gate nineteen.

Missy Longstocking took her winning tally to four from four with her win in the Group 3 $150,000 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 29 while Real Surreal came into Magic Millions calculations when she came from well back in the field to score a three and a quarter lengths win over 1000m at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Punters have stuck with Assail and the filly remains the Magic Millions favourite at $2.60 with Clevadude drifting slightly to $4 while Missy Longstocking is at $8 just in front of the Real Surreal at $9.

Trained by Erhart’s wife Lorraine, Architect only gained a run in the two year old Classic with the scratching of Gold Coast filly Purrific by Racing Queensland stewards after the Gillian Heinrich trained youngster pulled up sore following morning trackwork.

Architect has been posted a $26 chance but Lorraine says that he is in with a genuine chance after doing plenty wrong when third to Missy Longstocking in the Group 3 $150,000 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 29.

“He was running into the other horses and if he had of went straight he could have won,” Lorraine said.

“That’s all to do with experience but I’m sure he will improve a bit on that run and hopefully his manners will too.

“Tony has ridden him a race now as well and it’s well documented that he is one of the best riders of two-year-olds in Queensland.”

Tony is nearing the end of a long successful career in the saddle but is still highly regarded as a top rider of young horses in the twilight of his riding days and will get a good run midfield from barrier five.

Lorraine and Tony are also hoping to chalk up their first feature race success together since Lorraine took up her trainers licence twenty-eight years ago.

While Tony has ridden a host of winners for Lorraine over the years, the husband wife combination is yet to pick up a feature race trophy together for the display cabinet.

“So it would be a big thrill for all of us if he could win, like it would be for anyone,” Lorraine said.

Clarry Conners’ filly Assail remains the short priced favourite at $2.80 after drawing the inside gate while second pick Clevadude has drifted slightly to $3.80 coming up with barrier eighteen.

Local pair Missy Longstocking and Real Surreal share the next line of betting at $9 with Greytfilly next at $13.

Craig Williams will be able to park Assail wherever he likes, in front or just behind the leaders whereas Craig Newitt will have to use Clevadude’s early speed to cross the field before the first turn from his outside draw.

While Damian Browne on Missy Longstocking will be sitting just on the pace waiting to pounce when the field hits the straight.

Assail has remained the Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite after drawing barrier 1. Photo by: Steve Hart

Big race jockey Craig Williams will be able to put the Charge Forward filly in the perfect spot for the helter skelter dash around the tight Gold Coast circuit while Craig Newitt on Caulfield youngster Clevadude will be hoping for a miracle run after drawing gate eighteen in the original drew.

Renowned two year old trainer Clarry Conners has declared Assail ready to run at her top after a sizzling gallop in between races at Warwick Farm last Saturday with Williams aboard.

“She worked nice, I’m more than happy with her – she’s ready,” Conners said.

Williams gave a glowing report following the hit out and agreed with Conners that she is ready to go.

“She is a high quality filly,” Williams said.

“The way she worked you would be happy if you were going towards the Slipper. The way that she felt and her attitude, she is a very good filly.

“I was rapt with the way she went. She is better than a Magic Millions horse, she is a high quality filly.

“I’d be happy in a Blue Diamond or a Golden Slipper the way that she felt. She is good.”

Unbeaten Eagle Farm trained filly Missy Longstocking is starting to gather more support after drawing barrier five and rider Damian Browne will also have plenty of options with the Sequalo filly, likely to be sitting hot on the heels of Assail.

Missy Longstocking scored her fourth win from as many starts winning the Group 3 $150,000 B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 29 and gives trainer Liam Birchley an excellent chance to win his first Magic Millions 2yo Classic after finishing a close second with Paprika to Phelan Ready in 2009.

Trainer Kelso Wood will be happy with barrier three for last week’s Eagle Farm winner Real Surreal with Michael Cahill taking over from Matthew Palmer.

Gai Waterhouse was out of luck at the barrier drew coming up with thirteen for Sweet Idea and nineteen for Certitude.

Sweet Idea will have to use her early speed for James McDonald to take a up a prominent position while Tommy Berry will be hoping that Certitude doesn’t dawdle out of the barriers again like she did at Wyong when fourth behind Assail in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1100m) at Wyong on December 20.

Assail has firmed into $2.80 to be a clear cut favourite over Clevadude who has drifted to $3.80 with Missy Longstocking and Real Surreal sharing the next line of betting at $9.