Lloyd Williams has revealed Melbourne Cup champion Green Moon is unlikely to defend his title in 2013.

Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon is unlikely to defend his title in 2013. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.Ra

The prominent owner said the star import has come through his convincing win well and will now head to the spelling paddock before potentially returning for a brief autumn campaign.

Williams all but ruled out a second shot at Australia’s biggest race but said the six-year-old is likely to be given the chance to make up for his seventh-place finish in the Cox Plate.

“If he is okay he will have one or two runs maximum in the autumn and then we’ll see if he is up to another crack at the Cox Plate in the spring,” Williams told Radio Sports National.

Green Moon delivered Williams his fourth Melbourne Cup on Tuesday when he overcame his $20 price to beat home Fiorente and Jakkalberry by a length.

Robert Hickmott became the fourth trainer to combine with Williams for Melbourne Cup glory who won previous cups with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985) and Efficient (2007).

The son of Montjeu has been a success since making his Australian debut in 2011 after previously racing in the UK.

While the Melbourne Cup win is the obvious highlight, in 2011 he won the Newcastle Cup and finished second in the Caulfield Cup before winning the Group 2 Blamey Stakes in the autumn and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes earlier this spring.