Champion Winx will not be seen again this spring with her owners and trainer Chris Waller opting to send her for a spell.

Winx won a record-equalling third Cox Plate last Saturday to extend her winning streak to 22 and her Group One tally to 15.

Waller had left the option open to run in the Group One Emirates Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, but said on Friday she had earned a break.

Fronting the media, Waller said he had contemplated letting her run one more race, but the wellbeing of the horse — and racing fans all over the world — were more important.

“There were so many things that were considered … and certainly the way she’s come through her most recent race, gave us the excitement to think we can go further,” an emotional Waller said.

“But weighing everything up, she doesn’t owe us anything.

“It’s not about money or anything else, but delivering a great experience to fans in Australia and the rest of the world.”

Waller spoke with emotion as he made note of Winx’s special place in Australia’s sporting history.

“She means so much to all of us, as she does to all of her fans,” he said.

“We see her importance in sport, we also see her importance as a horse.

“We think she’s still going very well but we’ve never asked her for too much, so we think now is the right time [for a rest], based on her, her longevity, and for all of you to continue to enjoy her.”

With 23 straight wins behind her, Winx still seems an unstoppable force.

And Waller hopes the timing of this spell will help her be able to keep her reign going for some time yet.

“Right up until this morning she had a saddle on her back and she was exercising. She was ready to have a serious gallop tomorrow morning, so we wanted to make a decision today to make sure she didn’t have to go through that hard exercise,” he said.

“Seeing her pull up so well was comforting, to see our horse is still enjoying it and is still in great shape, and that gives us the hope to say that she can continue on for another six to 12 months.”