Proxima Dea digs deep for another win

David Payne's charge, Proxima Dea, upheld her flawless record with a victory that defied conventional racing logic.

The small filly navigated a four-wide path from the 600-metre mark, briefly took the lead upon straightening, only to be challenged. She then demonstrated remarkable resilience, fighting back to reclaim a slender advantage at the finish line.

A mere half-length separated the top five runners, with Proxima Dea emerging victorious by the narrowest of margins.

"She is so game and just keeps coming. She doesn't know when to give up,'' Payne said. "She will even be better once you go out over further, too.

"I know she is nothing to look at. When you look at her everyone bags her, me included.

"The owner says 'she is beautiful' and I say 'where, she is ugly'. But she has guts!''

Under jockey Zac Lloyd, Proxima Dea, sent off as the $4 favourite, won by a short neck from Wonka ($7.50), with Scarole ($8) a short half head behind in third.

Lloyd was full of praise for the filly's tenacity and spirit after her fourth win in as many starts.

"She's so narrow,'' Lloyd said. "She reminds me a lot of Zardozi in stature.

"But she just tries her hardest, and winners win. She knows how to win."

Payne indicated that Proxima Dea would now be aimed at the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 24. Lloyd concurred, stating the race is "perfect" for the filly.

"She will be in with a great chance,'' Lloyd said. "That race today was not run to suit her at all. They went very steady, I got onto heels into the first bend. I wasn't as smooth as I would have liked and I can do a better job in the Spring Champion or the Oaks, so for her to still win, she's just so strong late. S

"She is going to eat up 2000 and eventually an Oaks trip. It's very exciting for her."

Lloyd also highlighted the influence of trainer David Payne, mentioning the long-standing relationship between Payne and his father, the former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd, dating back to their South African origins.

"You never doubt him,'' Lloyd said.

"My dad has told me all along, you never doubt what he (Payne) does and you just follow along, so it's a pleasure to ride for him."

Proxima Dea has achieved historical significance as only the third filly to claim the Gloaming Stakes title, and the first since 1993 when Constant Flight triumphed over the colts.

The inaugural Gloaming Stakes in 1978 was won by the renowned Neville Begg-trained Kapalaran, who also maintained an unblemished winning record.

Trainer Payne also prepared Ace High to win the 2017 Gloaming Stakes and the Spring Champion Stakes double, prior to the stayer's successful campaign in the VRC Derby in Melbourne.

The respected trainer confirmed the Spring Champion Stakes as the next target for Proxima Dea, with the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5 also in her sights.

"This was her first run for six weeks, she has had a bit of a spell between runs and there is improvement to come for the Spring Champion,'' Payne said.

"She's a very good filly, very tough, and will be even better when she gets out to the Oaks trip."

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