Champion Australian sprinter Takeover Target has failed in his final attempt to win the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m), finishing fourth in the feature sprint race of the Royal Ascot Carnival.
The rags-to-riches eight-year old was having his sixth and final run at the famous track, and was looking to go one better from when he was close up second in the King's Stand Stakes (1000m) on Tuesday.
Takeover Target looked like bidding farewell to Royal Ascot in style when he took the lead inside the final 200m, but he was swamped off a hot pace with 33-1 outsider Kingsgate Native getting home to defeat War Artist (8-1) and Sir Gerry (20-1).
It means that from his six runs at Ascot, he has one win, in the 2005 King's Stand, three seconds and two fourths.
Punters have embraced the Aussie star as one of their own and they backed him into 4-1 favourite on his performance behind Spanish star Equiano on Tuesday. Kingsgate Native had finished well behind Takeover Target in that race but turned it around on a softish track on Saturday.
Takeover Target began the race well and set the pace on the outside rail, with the field initially split into two, one group near the outside rail and one in the middle of the track. Around the 400m mark, the middle brigade came across to the outside rail.
But it was the horses which had the trail off the Australian on the rail who would fill the trifecta with Kingsgate Native pulling around Takeover Target's heels at the furlong and putting paid to his rival. The veteran Australian fought on until the closing stages before fading.
It's not known whether trainer Joe Janiak will take his star onto the July Cup in Newmarket in a few weeks or decide to return home. Janiak, who got to meet the Queen on Saturday ahead of the race, may even decide to retire his horse of a lifetime.
"The ground was very firm the other day (in the King's Stand) and that might have jarred him up slightly," Janiak told PA Sport.
"We'll see what the problem is and hope he can run in the July Cup."
Kiwi mare Seachange finished well back in the field.
The Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
1st Kingsgate Native - S Sanders 33/1
2nd War Artist - K McEvoy 8/1
3rd Sir Gerry - J Spencer 20/1
4th Takeover Target - J Ford