Waller warming to Queen Anne bid as Winx is put away for the year

We won't be seeing Winx again in 2017 but that could be great news for Royal Ascot in 2018 as trainer Chris Waller appears to be warming to the prospect of his wondermare running in the Queen Anne.

After emulating Kingston Town by winning a third Cox Plate last Saturday, Waller was not ruling out a second Spring Carnival appearance in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 10, but that idea has been shelved and the six-year-old is set for a richly deserved rest.

Ladbrokes make Winx 6-4 to run at Royal Ascot next summer, and she is 7-2 with the same firm to win any race at the meeting.

Waller said: "We think it's time for her to have a break. She's done a great job."

Asked about a potential trip to Britain in 2018, Waller replied: "I think realistically we'd be looking at the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. It's over a straight mile, so that would be uncharted waters for Winx, but it's over a distance that we think you'd see Winx at close to her best.

"That would allow the best from the other side of the world to come together against Winx."

Running in the Queen Anne would, however, mean a clash with Europe's supermare Enable at Royal Ascot would be very unlikely.