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.

The Juddmonte International has attracted just four runners for the third time since 1990 but as they say, it only takes two to tango and nobody can argue with the quality of horse that will be on display.

Desert Crown will not run in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday after suffering an injury during a routine piece of work on Sunday morning.

Eight runners have been confirmed for the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Eight runners have been confirmed for the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.