Stars go hard at trackwork ahead of Saturday's Group 1 racing Grey filly Villa Verde at Randwick as she prepares for the Golden Slipper, pictured with trainer Shaun Dwyer. FIVEANDAHALFSTAR had a pre-dawn hitout with new jockey Hugh Bowman, champion colt Pierro enjoyed a stroll over 1200m, while Golden Slipper hope Villa Verde lit up the course proper. In a busy morning at Royal Randwick, several carnival stars did not disappoint as they rounded out their preparations ahead of Saturday's bumper day of Group 1 racing. Villa Verde was one who really turned heads, charging home her final 200m in 11sec flat - a blistering time that is not seen every day at trackwork. Jockey Michael Rodd flew up from Melbourne to partner the grey filly and said the time was even more special given Villa Verde galloped on the outer course proper. "She could run that time every day of the week," Rodd said, whose early morning glory was later tempered when Villa Verde drew barrier 17 in the Golden Slipper. By the time we got back to the stable she was over the run. She could have gone out there and done it again. She's a machine. I understand she may have even run quicker on Saturday morning. Trainer Shaun Dwyer was impressed with the hitout, and maintained Villa Verde had scope for improvement after chasing home Slipper favourite Overreach. While Villa Verde was one of the last horses to hit the track, Fiveandahalfstar was one of the first on to the course proper just after 4.30am. Trainer Anthony Cummings greeted Bowman, who takes over the reins from Peter Robl for Saturday's Group 1 The BMW (2400m). Cummings scratched Fiveandahalfstar from last Saturday's showdown with It's A Dundeel in the Rosehill Guineas, but was hardly disappointed with his decision. "The Guineas was a means to an end, not the end," said Cummings, whose Fiveandahalfstar will start $2.80 favourite against the older horses in The BMW en route to the explosive ATC Derby clash against It's A Dundeel. Pierro and regular rider Mark Newnham were not out to set any records, with the Gai Waterhouse-trained champ running home his final 200m in 11.5sec. "I can't fault him and he'll win again," Waterhouse said. Pierro's rivals in Saturday's Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m), stablemate Laser Hawk and the Kiwi Silent Achiever, who will run in The BMW, also impressed when they worked together on the course proper.