Irish trainer Willie Mullins has confirmed the Melbourne Cup as the aim for Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Simenon.

Simenon was narrowly beaten by the Queen’s horse Estimate in Thursday’s 4000m feature at Royal Ascot.

“The plan this year is to take him to the Melbourne Cup and I always said that if I had a horse good enough to run there then I would love to go back,” Mullins said.

The trainer was unsuccessful in the Melbourne Cup with the enigmatic Holy Orders 10 years ago when the horse finished 17th.

“This horse loves these staying races and I think the Melbourne Cup would suit him really well,” Mullins said.

If Simenon does travel to Australia, Mullins would like him to have a lead-up run in Melbourne before the Cup at Flemington on November 5.

Simenon won twice at last year’s Royal Ascot carnival and is at $26 in the TAB’s Melbourne Cup market.