Trainer Jeremy Sylvester compared himself to the owners of one of Australia’s greatest racehorses after Youthful King won the Jungle Juice Cup on Tuesday.

In a result that delivered Youthful King his third win in the race and champion bush jockey Robert Thompson his 10th, Sylvester couldn’t help but make reference to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.

“I know how the owners of Makybe Diva feel now. To a small extent, anyway,” Sylvester said.

Youthful King was given a perfect ride from Thompson as he saved ground from midfield to put his mount into the race at the 200m.

A winner of the race in 2011 and again in 2013 when it was transferred to Scone, Youthful King ($7) belied his advancing years to run down the favourite Aghamore ($2.70) to by win by three-quarters of a length.

My Man Of War ($6) was 1-1/2 lengths away third.

“I knew he was going to be in the finish if I had a bit of luck,” Thompson said.

Sylvester said Thompson, who rode the 4000th winner of his career in May, had been instrumental in helping him become a respected Hunter Valley trainer.

“That’s how I got into the game through Robert and his father,” Sylvester said.

“They were a big part of my life growing up and that’s how I got into the horses. I don’t what I’m going to do when (Robert) retires.”