Rebel’s Romance has thrived since his historic Hong Kong victory in May as he prepares for a blockbuster clash with Auguste Rodin in Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot.

In career-best form at the age of six, Rebel’s Romance became the first overseas raider to win the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) with a powerful two-length win at Sha Tin.

The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding has racked up Group One triumphs in Hong Kong, America, Dubai and Germany but Saturday’s race will be his first appearance at the top level in his home country.

Two of the top-five gallopers in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings will go head-to-head, with Rebel’s Romance sitting third with a rating of 123 after his Champions & Chater Cup heroics.

Auguste Rodin, prepared by master trainer Aidan O’Brien, is next with a rating of 122 after bouncing back to his brilliant best with victory in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes during last month’s Royal Ascot carnival.

Appleby said Rebel’s Romance was primed for his first race in the UK since last December.

“As always, it’s a strong field [with] plenty of strength and depth throughout, but we’re very happy with Rebel’s Romance,” Appleby said.

“Who doesn’t know Rebel’s Romance now around the world? He’s a winner at Group One level in many countries now and we feel this is the right chance for him hopefully to have Group One success here in the UK.

“He’s been faultless this year, he’s come out of his last race day in Hong Kong in great shape, so we’re very much looking forward to the day.”

Auguste Rodin is expected to start favourite in his bid to turn the tables on Rebel’s Romance, having finished a disappointing last of 12 behind the Godolphin galloper in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic (2,410m) at Meydan in March.

The enigmatic colt has won eight of 13 starts but is prone to misfiring, including in last year’s King George when running a distant last.

“We’ve been very happy with Auguste Rodin and the plan was always to come here after the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes,” O’Brien said.

“In last year’s King George, it was soft ground and we probably held him up too much. When Ryan [Moore] felt he was not going to win, he eased him out of it and the run probably was not as bad as it looked.

“The plan for Auguste Rodin after Ascot is the Japan Cup, which will be very exciting, and he could have a run somewhere in between.”

O’Brien has three of the nine King George starters, with Luxembourg and Hans Andersen joining Auguste Rodin.

“Luxembourg won the Coronation Cup over a mile-and-a-half, which we thought would suit him. He’s in very good form as well,” O’Brien said.

Classy filly Bluestocking, fresh from victory in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes (1,800m) in Ireland, and Group One Irish Derby (2,000m) runner-up Sunway, the lone three-year-old in the field, add intrigue to the King George.

The much-anticipated feature is one of eight races being offered for betting by the Jockey Club on Saturday, with the first jumping at 8.15pm Hong Kong time.