David Payne, the esteemed trainer, watched as Proxima Dea continued her perfect record with a victory that defied expectations.
Despite her small stature, the filly executed a wide run from the 600-metre mark, briefly took the lead after turning, but then found herself challenged. She fought back valiantly under pressure to snatch a narrow win on the finish line.
The margin between the first five finishers was less than half a length, with Proxima Dea securing the win by a slim margin.
“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!”
Ridden by Zac Lloyd, Proxima Dea, the $4 favourite, triumphed by a short neck over Wonka ($7.50), with Scarole ($8) a short half head behind in third.
Lloyd expressed profound admiration for the filly’s bravery and resolve following her fourth consecutive victory.
“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 announced his intention to target the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 24 for Proxima Dea, a race Lloyd believes is an ideal fit 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 paid tribute to Payne, noting the long-standing connection between his father, former jockey Jeff Lloyd, and the trainer, stemming from their South African backgrounds.
“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 a notable feat, becoming only the third filly to win the Gloaming Stakes and the first since Constant Flight defeated the colts in 1993.
The inaugural Gloaming Stakes in 1978 was won by the exceptional Neville Begg-trained Kapalaran, who also maintained an undefeated record.
Payne had previously trained Ace High to secure both the 2017 Gloaming Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes before his Melbourne Derby triumph.
The accomplished trainer confirmed that the Spring Champion Stakes is the next objective for Proxima Dea, followed by a campaign targeting the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5.
“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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