PROXIMA DEA - PLAIN AS DAY BUT WILL STAY TILL THE COWS COME HOME

Proxima Dea looked almost nonchalant as she cruised past the post to win the Spring Champion Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

“Every time I look at her standing in her box I wonder how the hell she’s doing what she’s doing,” said David Payne. “I was unimpressed the first time I laid eyes on her and nothing’s changed other than my admiration for one of the gutsiest fillies I’ve ever put a bridle on.”

These were the comments offered by the expat South African trainer on Sunday morning following Proxima Dea’s arrogant demolition of her rivals in Saturday’s Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes - a race David had won twice previously with Ace High in 2017 and Montefilia in 2020. In stretching her unbeaten record to five wins Proxima Dea is now a short priced elect for the Crown Oaks at Flemington on November 5th. “She appears to have come through Saturday’s race really well but I’m going to monitor closely over the next week before making a decision,” said Payne. “It was a pretty tough run on Saturday, but this is a special filly. Her stamina is bottomless.”

Fourth consecutive win to Proxima Dea! She looked vulnerable but held off the challenges to win the Gloaming Stakes 10/10/2026 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Despite a heavy dose of the ‘flu Zac Lloyd valiantly fulfilled nine riding engagements on Saturday, winning twice and being placed four times. Under firm direction from David Payne he rode Proxima Dea with intent and purpose. “I told him not to bother about riding a pretty race,” said the trainer. “I asked him to go forward from the outset and start to ramp it up before the turn. I convinced him she was the best stayer in the race and needed to be ridden accordingly. Should she get to the Oaks in Victoria we can ride her a little more conservatively over 2500m on that big Flemington track.”

Zac followed his instructions to the letter. He had Proxima Dea away fast from her extreme outside gate and was fortunate in being able to follow Cormier across as the brown colt assumed control. Perhaps some observers were of the opinion Zac should drop Proxima Dea to the fence behind the leader, but David Payne’s instructions were ringing in his ears. The young jockey just faced the breeze at the leader’s tail until the 600m where he started to apply the pressure. On straightening the two were together with Global Goal moving to third and looking dangerous. That danger quickly disappeared as “plain Jane” got the upper hand and surged away to beat Global Goal and Cormier in the manner of a true staying filly.

All she wants to do is stay! Proxima Dea sat outside the leader before surging away to win the Gr. 1 Spring Champion Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Proxima Dea was bred by her owners and catalogued for sale as Lot 419 at the 2025 inglis Easter yearling Sale. Her plain looks and a hefty reserve of $300,000 obviously came against her on sale day. On being passed in, the filly was despatched to Ciaron Maher who’d expressed confidence that he could syndicate her among existing owners. When she was still “ownerless” after several months her breeders decided to retain the ownership themselves and send her to old friend David Payne.

“I could understand why she’d been difficult to sell,” said the trainer. “She was as plain as day and far from robust. There was nothing wrong with her pedigree being a daughter of dual Gr 1 winner Tarzino and from a Redoute’s Choice mare called Invisible Coin. She is in fact a sister to Gypsy Goddess who won a Queensland Oaks and was placed in the ATC Oaks and a Golden Eagle. Her name Proxima Dea is a translation from Latin and means “Next Goddess” or “Another Goddess”. It wasn’t long before Payne recognized a talent that belied her looks.

David Payne identified Proxima Dea's staying potential early days. He says she just keeps raising the bar - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

The filly’s unbeaten record and current earnings of over $1.6 million must be a source of disbelief to owners Andy Giles, Hugh Docherty and Caroline Vincent. It’s only a short time since the very same owners enjoyed a magical ride with another elite three year old filly. Their previous pride and joy was none other than the hulking Montefilia who was trained by David Payne for twenty seven of her thirty three starts. Her six wins for the stable included four high profile Gr 1s - Flight Stakes, Spring Champion Stakes, ATC Metropolitan and Tancred Stakes.

It’s well documented that the big mare was purchased by Yulong Investments for a whopping $3.4 million at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. She won the Hill Stakes in a six start preparation for Chris Waller before being retired to stud. Her first foal, a colt by Yulong’s own Alabama Express was passed in at $500,000 at this year’s Inglis Easter Sale. Having the same ownership group is one of two things Montefilia and Proxima Dea have in common. The other is their identical attitudes to racing and their sheer determination.

Montefilia (Jason Collett) wins her fourth Gr. 1, the 2022 Ranvet Stakes. She and Proxima Dea both carried the colours of the old South African flag - courtesy Bradley Photographers.

Interestingly Proxima Dea had a small statistical victory over Montefilia in winning Saturday’s Gr 1 at only her fifth start. It took the big mare six starts to win her first race at the elite level. Obviously the two have carried the same colours in their respective racing careers. Registered as pale blue and orange vertical halves, the silks represent the old flag of South Africa - the colours flown between 1928 and 1994 when Fred Brownell was commissioned to create a new combination to mark the first post apartheid election.

It’s well documented that David Payne enjoyed a stellar career as both trainer and jockey in his home country before bravely entering the fiercely competitive Sydney training ranks in 2002. His riding career was all over by age 22, but not before he’d won 400 races including the 1968 edition of the famous Durban July - the race every South African jockey and trainer aspires to win. Imagine Payne’s elation four years later when he won the same race as trainer of a very talented horse called In Full Flight. He was twice South African champion trainer, and twenty three times premiership winner in his home province of Natal.

Among those premiership stats were no less than 100 Gr 1 wins. Proxima Dea’s Spring Champion Stakes win was his fifteenth in Australia. He’s earnestly hoping the same filly can improve that tally in the Crown Oaks on November 5th. “We had high hopes for Montefilia in the 2020 edition but nothing went right,” he recalled. “Hugh Bowman had her in the one out one back spot, when the filly she was following stopped abruptly at the 600m. Hugh had to set her alight and was actually in front on straightening before being run down by Personal and Salto Angel, two fillies who could sprint. It was all upside down for Montefilia who loved a strong pace before winding into it. That was yesterday. Can our little ugly duckling square the ledger in 2026.”