Australian sprinter Nicconi failed to live up to his promise in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in which the second favourite could manage only fourth place.Equiano (9-2), winner of the race in 2008, scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Markab (14-1) with Borderlescott (16-1) a neck away third.A dual Group One winner in Australia, Nicconi never looked like taking out the prestigious 1000m race which has been won by Australian sprinters four times in the past eight years.Trained by David Hayes and

Australian sprinter Nicconi failed to live up to his promise in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in which the second favourite could manage only fourth place.

Equiano (9-2), winner of the race in 2008, scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Markab (14-1) with Borderlescott (16-1) a neck away third.

A dual Group One winner in Australia, Nicconi never looked like taking out the prestigious 1000m race which has been won by Australian sprinters four times in the past eight years.

Trained by David Hayes and ridden by international jockey Frankie Dettori the four-year-old, who started at 100-30 second pick behind disappointing 5-2 favourite Kingsgate Native who was sixth, got a clear run late near the rail but was no match for the placegetters, finishing three-quarters of a length from Borderlescott.

"He didn't travel as well as he does in Australia," Dettori told AAP.

"Maybe he ran a bit flat, maybe he didn't travel very well. I was struggling halfway, he stayed on to finish fourth.

"But I don't think the real Nicconi turned up today. I couldn't really put my finger on it, but he never at any stage looked like winning."

Australia's other contender Gold Trail (10-1) was expected to lead but could not muster pace early and was always with the backmarkers before finishing 10th.

British racing commentator Jim McGrath said Gold Trail simply wasn't good enough, but Nicconi should have done better.

"On the face of things the horse Frankie Dettori rode, Nicconi, was a little disappointing," he said.

"He never really travelled at all, he missed the break, got off to a bad start, which is often not a bad thing at Ascot because quite often we see horses coming from way off the pace here.

"But in that particular race on this instance the first and second were first and second throughout. It paid to be handy."

Australian horses have a good track record in the King's Stand.

Choisir was the first Aussie sprinter to win the race in 2003.

He was followed by Takeover Target in 2006, Miss Andretti in 2007 and Scenic Blast in 2009.

All four horses had won the Lightning Stakes in Australia the same year.

This year it was won by Nicconi.

"(Australian horses) have done extremely well here," McGrath said.

"Nicconi looked to have the perfect prep, didn't he, because he'd just come via the race in Australia that usually pinpoints the horses that come over here.

"So I think it was a little disappointing he didn't fare better here."