Jockey Michael Dee will be out to make the most of his call up to ride Royal Patronage in the Cox Plate

Jockey Michael Dee is looking to make the most of his call up to ride Royal Patronage in Saturday’s $5m Cox Plate.

Jockey Michael Dee wants to make the most of a surprise call up to ride Royal Patronage in the Cox Plate for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Dee was finishing up Cranbourne jumpout commitments last Tuesday when notified about the Cox Plate booking just before the barrier draw.

“Lucky enough to pick up the ride, I hardly ride for Gai and Adrian,” Dee said.

“They’re not one of my regulars and I’m not one of their regulars, lucky to pick up the ride.”

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Royal Patronage, a black type winner in Europe and America before joining the Waterhouse-Bott yard, won the Group 2 Tramway Stakes first-up in September.

The six-year-old Wootton Bassett stallion has placed third the past three starts behind Attrition (Hill Stakes), Ceolwulf (The Epsom) and Fangirl (7 Stakes).

“He’s got good form on the board, he hasn’t run a bad race here,” Dee said.

Royal Patronage winning the Tramway Stakes in September Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“He won exceptionally well first-up and he hasn’t been far away since behind some good horses, this is a step up form wise obviously, no doubt about that.”

Royal Patronage is a $23 chance with Ladbrokes for the Cox Plate.

Royal Patronage has a lovely draw, barrier three, to settle in a forward position, a trademark for Waterhouse-Bott runners.

“I’m guessing we’ll be in the first four or five at least,” Dee said.

“I’m not sure what Evaporate does, Pride Of Jenni obviously (leads), Mr Brightside will hold a spot, we’ll be thereabouts.”

Despite a lopsided market, big guns Prognosis ($3.80), Via Sistina ($4), Pride Of Jenni ($5), Broadsiding ($6) and Mr Brightside ($8.50), Dee expects much more even Cox Plate.

“You could make a case for anything there,” Dee said.

“It’s one of those races that could produce anything.”

Dee rode in his first Cox Plate last year aboard then star three-year-old colt King Colorado, who led and tired out of contention late.

Originally published as Jockey Michael Dee will be out to make the most of his call up to ride Royal Patronage in the Cox Plate