The Cox Plate hoodoo continues for prominent owner Lloyd Williams.

Williams has been a four-time Melbourne Cup-winning owner and last year snared a first Caulfield Cup with Fawkner.

That same horse carried his hopes of a first Cox Plate on Saturday but Fawkner was denied by a short neck by Irish visitor Adelaide.

Williams' son and Fawkner's part-owner Nick Williams said the gelding, who started $4.40 favourite, ran an enormous race but had no excuses.

"He (jockey Nick Hall) said the horse stumbled coming out of the barriers and gave him a bit of a scare for a second," Williams said.

"That's no excuse for the horse. He ran to his absolute best and was beaten by a better one on the day."

Lloyd Williams' previous Cox Plate near misses have been Mahogany's close second to Octagonal in 1995 while Zipping placed in three consecutive Plates with seconds in 2008 and 2010 and a third in between.

"We thought we had a great chance today, but found one too good," Nick Williams said.

"That's racing."

Fawkner had been set for the Cox Plate for a year after winning the 2013 Caulfield Cup and then finishing strongly for sixth in the Melbourne Cup.

He is on the fourth line of betting for this year's Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4.

"We'll see how the horse pulls up and go from there," Williams said.

"Don't worry about us, all credit with the winners."