If Winx ever had any doubters, surely they have been silenced now after her demolition performance in winning the Doncaster Handicap.

She is a genuine champion; she looked well and truly beaten on the home turn, even her trainer, Chris Waller, admitted to that, it was among the most amazing performances at Randwick in a long time.

And the best of all came through this morning; she would not be running in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday next.

She has done enough for the present and now can rest on her laurels, she has well earned her break, she will get the remainder of the good autumn and return to the stable before the winter sets in, and then prepare for her principle target, the Cox Plate, at Moonee Valley in springtime.

Chris Waller can be applauded for his decision, you can take the pitcher to the well once too often, and regret it for much of your life thereafter.

It will be difficult to assess Winx among the great mares of the past, she is a champion without any shadow of a doubt, however, where she would sit among the best mares to race is a difficult one to digest, let’s wait untiI the spring.

The half brother to Winx was purchased at the Easter Sales by Gai Waterhouse, for $2.3 million today.