Champion sprinter Takeover Target could have made his final appearance on a British, and possibly Australian, racetrack after a lacklustre finish in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The nine-year-old gelding was the 4-1 favourite for the 1200m Group One race but could only manage to finish in fourth place after apparently jarring up towards the finish line.

Trainer Joe Janiak, who met the Queen in the Royal Box shortly before the race, had planned to enter the rags-to-riches galloper in the July Cup at Newmarket next month before flying him home to Australia.

However he will now wait for a vet to examine the horse before making a decision about what the future holds for Takeover Target, who finished a gallant second five days ago in the Group One King's Stand Stakes (1000m).

"His last two starts, he just doesn't seem to be finishing it off," a downbeat Janiak said.

"It might be a minor problem there. The only thing I can think of at the moment is that the track was very firm here last Tuesday and he might have jarred up and is starting to feel his legs.

"If he's not right he won't be going (to Newmarket). But if we can get him right and find out what the problem is and it's only minor, there's no reason we can't."

"If there is a major problem he can probably retire, that's it. He's been a great horse. We'll never punish him. He can retire in glory."

Out of six starts at Royal Ascot in the past three years, Takeover Target has collected a win in the 2005 King's Stand Stakes plus three seconds and two fourths.

After finishing second in the Golden Jubilee and fourth in the King's Stand last year, Janiak considered retiring the horse, which he bought five years ago for $1200 and has since won more than $5 million in prizemoney.

However he bounced back to form, most recently beating compatriot Magnus in convincing style over 1200m in Singapore last month.

After taking an early lead in the Golden Jubilee, Takeover Target ended up surrendering in the final stages to 33-1 shot Kingsgate Native.

The Australian-bred and English-trained War Artist was second by a length and a quarter followed by US entrant Sir Gerry another three-quarters of a length away while New Zealand mare Seachange finished well back in 12th place.

It was a surprise result for the three-year-old Irish winner, who finished 10th and several lengths behind Takeover Target in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes.

Janiak refused to feel disappointed about the day, having enjoyed the rare pleasure of being invited to meet the Queen in the Royal Box.

"It was phenomenal," the former Queanbeyan taxi driver said.

"I was a bit nervous and I didn't really know how it would go, but she's a lovely lady and it's something I'll cherish all my life."

The Queen ended up having more success on the day, with 7-2 joint favourite Free Agent coming from last to first to win the Chesham Stakes - her first win at Royal Ascot in nine years.