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Moonee Valley Racing Club’s dream of luring star European three-year-old Paddington south for this year’s Cox Plate appears over after Aidan O’Brien outlined the next steps for the four-time Group 1 winner.

Aidan O'Brien has earmarked the Champions Day meeting at Ascot, and a start in either the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1609m) or the Champions Stakes (2012m), as the most likely next option for the son of Siyouni.

Will be run on October 21, a week before the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), for which Paddington sat on the second line of betting behind Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.

The Champions Stakes will be run on October 21, a week before the $5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), for which Paddington sat on the second line of betting behind Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior.

Paddington would be required in quarantine at least a month before the Cox Plate if he was to be at The Valley on October 28.

"The plan is for Paddington to go to Ascot," O'Brien told Racing Post.

"The lads haven't decided yet, but it will be either the Champion Stakes or the QEII.

"My guess at the moment would be the Queen Elizabeth II over a mile. He is probably a miler at heart."

Paddington was beaten for the first time since his debut fifth placing in a 1408m maiden at Ascot in September last year when third behind Mostahdaf and Nashwa in the Group 1 Juddmonte International (2012m) at York.

Included in his seven-race winning streak were Group 1 wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas (1609m), St James's Palace Stakes (1609m), Eclipse Stakes (2011m) and Sussex Stakes (1609m).

Despite Paddington's likely withdrawal, O'Brien holds eight other Cox Plate entries with last week's Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2414m) winner Continuous and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup (2112m) winner Luxembourg the shortest-priced in early markets.