David Payne's filly Proxima Dea made it five from five with a strong win in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick and now looks set for the VRC Oaks.
Proxima Dea remains unbeaten after taking on the colts and winning the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The David Payne-trained filly, ridden by Zac Lloyd, started second favourite at $3.70 and beat favourite Global Goal ($2.80) by a length and a half. Cormier ($16), who led into the straight, held on for third.
Five from five
It was the fifth win from five starts for the daughter of Tarzino, who started her career with a win on debut at long odds. She gave Payne his 11th Australian Group 1 and his first Spring Champion with a filly since Montefilia in 2020.
- 1st Proxima Dea (Zac Lloyd) – $3.70
- 2nd Global Goal – $2.80 favourite
- 3rd Cormier – $16
Bred by Transtasman Breeders, she is out of an unraced Redoute's Choice mare and is a full sister to 2022 Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess. That Oaks-winning link in the family is a handy pointer as she steps up in trip.
Next stop: Flemington
Payne has indicated the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington is the next target, and she has firmed into clear Oaks favourite after Saturday. The Oaks is run on the Thursday after the Melbourne Cup, 5 November.
The punting angle
Beating the colts at Group 1 level is strong form for an Oaks, but the step up to 2500m is still a question for every three-year-old. Her pedigree gives good reason for confidence over the trip. The real Oaks question is whether you're happy taking a short price about an untested distance or would rather look for a filly at a price that is already proven over ground.
Global Goal lost little in defeat and Cormier showed plenty of speed, so both are worth following. Global Goal was beaten only by an unbeaten filly, so that form may stand up better than the margin suggests.