Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester says some "tough love" has been the catalyst for a resurgence in form from Youthful King.
The seven-year-old has raced consistently this campaign, winning his past two starts at Warwick Farm and Scone, a sharp turnaround from a year ago.
"I gave him a few runs this time last year but he never fired a shot so I turned him out and let him rough it in the paddock for three months," Sylvester said.
"He never had any hard feed, it was good pasture and some of the old-timers reckon it does them good. He's come back a different horse."
Youthful King will start in Saturday's Tattersall's Arcade Handicap (1200m) at Doomben with apprentice Rachael Murray reunited with the gelding.
Sylvester likes to vary Youthful King's training routine and believes he has struck a successful formula.
"He goes to Cessnock to do his pacework and jump-outs but about 85 per cent of his work is done off a jogging machine that I've got set up on the back of my ute," he said.
"It's something different for him. Once you get these sort of horses fit through racing you don't have to do much with them at the track."
Youthful King often works alongside Buckmoore, his stablemate who will carry only 51kg, after Murray's claim, in the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap (1010m) a drop of 10kg on the weight he shouldered to win at Scone on July 2.
"They both like the sting out of the track and it's a bit easier to find races for them in Brisbane than Sydney at the moment," Sylvester said.
Although Youthful King has drawn the outside alley on Saturday, Sylvester doesn't believe it's too much of a disadvantage because the gelding likes to settle well back in his races.
Sylvester trains a team of eight horses but has other jobs which keeps him busy.
"I also manage a property for Kris Lees and do his pre-training," he said.
"He's usually got 25 in pre-training plus a few spellers but we manage it all well."
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