The possibility of an extraordinary Australian Royal Ascot sprinting double looms large with Home Affairs certain to start favourite for Saturday’s (18 June) G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1200m), the final top-level contest of the five-day festival.

Hardened seven-year-old Nature Strip demonstrated just why he is the world’s champion speedster with an overwhelming dismissal of his European rivals in Tuesday’s (14 June) G1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and now his junior, Home Affairs – a three-year stablemate from the hugely successful Chris Waller barn – could again put his Northern Hemisphere opponents to the sword.

James McDonald didn’t have much trouble getting the speed fractions right as Nature Strip sat comfortably throughout the King’s Stand Stakes but, with 26 declared rivals in this cavalry charge for which gate 17 is allocated for this Aussie speedball, Saturday could prove more of a challenge for McDonald whose increasing collection of big race winners includes Verry Elleegant in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

"What he (Home Affairs) has in his favour is that he is a straight track horse. He only needs to replicate his Australian form to be fighting out the finish with the best in the world,” Waller said with comments that may be even more significant since they were made before Nature Strip’s spectacular win.

It is also worth remembering that Home Affairs had held off Nature Strip by a short-head in a dramatic finish to the G1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February.

Waller added: "Home Affairs is very good over 1200 (metres) provided he settles and we have done a lot of work with him on that."

Setbacks this week for US trainer Wesley Ward and star US rider Irad Ortiz Jr. won’t prevent the many supporters of this team expecting a big show from Campanelle, unbeaten in two starts at Ascot, if taking into account the fact that she was awarded the race in last year’s G1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) after a dramatic barging match with Dragon Symbol.

Not very big, but a real fighter is the Charlie Appleby-trained Creative Force (William Buick) who defeated 19 rivals in the G1 British Champions Sprint Stakes (1200m) here last October, though this enthusiastic gelding would add confidence for supporters if ground conditions eased from fast to good.

Those who considered Sir Michael Stoute’s career on the decline were silenced when Desert Crown pulverised his opposition in the G1 Derby Stakes (2405m) at Epsom this month. The veteran trainer has won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes (2392m) eleven times so it may be significant that he has supplemented Solid Stone – last month’s stylish winner of the G2 Huxley Stakes (2064m) at Chester. Significant also perhaps is that two horses Solid Stone defeated at Chester have won since.

Hurricane Lane (William Buick) will start favourite. He was one of last season’s best Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds and, though quick ground is an unknown, the triple Group 1 winner has a clear edge on the ratings.