Whether it was a travel hangover from a hit-and-run raid in Hong Kong or loss of interest in racing, Royal Patronage didn’t perform to expectations in the spring.
Returning for an autumn campaign, co-trainer Adrian Bott figured a shake-up of the seven-year-old’s routine might sharpen his focus, and luckily for him, he knew just the person for the job – his wife and accomplished horsewoman, Jess.
“My wife has done a lot of work with him. A lot of flat work and dressage work,” Bott said.
“She is very good at that side of things and working with them.
“We’ve tried as much as we can to refresh his training and mindset and his approach to it all and he seems back having confidence in himself.
“So I can’t take credit.”
Still a stallion, Royal Patronage was recently purchased by Western Australia’s Darling View Thoroughbreds, which stands a boutique roster including Playing God.
Given his next chapter is calling, Royal Patronage could be racing for the last time in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and if that is the case, Bott is optimistic the horse can go out with a bang.
“His biggest runs in Australian have been first-up,” he said.
“Sometimes it is hard to go against that depth of field first-up, against some that are deep into their campaigns and have had the runs and are fitter.
“But you fall back and look at his record, and that’s when he has performed really well and in that distance range as well. He can be effective.”
Royal Patronage has won three of his six starts fresh, highlighted by his Group 1 victory in last year’s Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
He has drawn barrier six in the All Aged with Tim Clark to ride.