KEY POINTS:
Jewels fever won't be getting in the way of Cast Adrift winning at Alexandra Park tonight.
The tough 4-year-old has as his final lead-up to his $200,000 division of the Jewels at Cambridge next Saturday tonight's main handicap pace.
With such a big race on the horizon, the connections of 4-year-olds Cast Adrift, Mr Ricky and Costalot could all be excused for not wanting hard runs tonight and even leaving their charges a touch underdone.
But Ray Green, who co-trains Cast Adrift, says that won't be the case.
"I think we all know the 4-year-old Jewels is a two-horse race, as far as winning goes," he says in reference to Changeover and Gotta Go Cullen. "So we can't be worrying about next week and trying to keep something in the tank.
"If the race is there to win this Friday, then we are keen to win it. The Jewels will be great but we aren't going there thinking we can win."
Cast Adrift has not raced since taking on the two stars in the Messenger three weeks ago but Green says he will be close to his peak.
"He won well at the workouts on Tuesday so I think he can win. He feels sharp and has been good from a standing start before so that doesn't worry us." Cast Adrift has the luxury of a 10m start over fellow Jewels starters Mr Ricky and Costalot and has the racing style to take advantage.
"He likes it when we make him work so he will be put in the race, don't worry about that," said Green.
Mr Ricky and, to a lesser extent, Costalot, are good enough to win tonight but coming around Cast Adrift will be not be easy.
While the Green-Mitchell stable expects good things from Cast Adrift, they have had to scratch star juvenile He's My Hero from race one.
But that won't stop him making it to his division of the Jewels.
"He raced below his best at Addington and we found he has a respiratory infection. We are treating that and he will be right for the Jewels," said Green.
The stable's outstanding 3-year-old, Justa Tiger, won't be at the Jewels as he is to undergo surgery to remove bone chips from his knees and won't be seen until next season.
That leaves them with Tuapeka Tiz and BK Commando as other chances tonight. "Tuapeka Tiz is on the Jewels ballot and is always a chance in a race like this, while BK Commando is an honest little trotting filly getting better."
