Michael Owen’s Brown Panther will continue a possible path to Melbourne despite being beaten in France on Monday morning (AEST), says Racing Network.

Brown Panther, owned by the former soccer great, finished second in the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (2700m) at Longchamp in Paris.

Trainer Tom Dascombe has confirmed the horse will follow the same path as last year before coming to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Last year Brown Panther went to the Glorious Goodwood carnival, where he won the Goodwood Cup, before flying to Australia.

Brown Panther finished a creditable eighth behind Fiorente in last year's Melbourne Cup, and Owen has publicly declared his wish to return to Melbourne for another crack at the great race.

Speaking overnight m Dascombe said: "He has run his race, he settled well and travelled. I think we were virtually upsides the winner turning in, and he just quickened up better than us...We've got no excuses, it's a shame we got beat but he will go to Goodwood now."