Proxima Dea, though not the most aesthetically pleasing, is rapidly gaining a legion of fans following her flawless performance in the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick today, maintaining her perfect race record.

Her trainer, the highly regarded David Payne, is undoubtedly her biggest supporter.

“I’ve had a lot of good fillies in my training career, but this one, she’s probably the ‘ugliest’ but she just might be the best,” Payne said.

“To look at her you wouldn’t give much for her but she seems to have everything- guts, heart and class.

“To win five in a row in her first preparation, she keeps surprising me. She’s exceptional.”

The undefeated Proxima Dea ($3.70 favourite) was piloted with remarkable confidence by Sydney’s leading jockey Zac Lloyd, before pulling away to secure a one-and-a-half-length victory over Global Goal ($2.80 favourite). The fillies dominated the placings, with the early pacesetter Cormier ($16) finishing a short head back in third.

Proxima Dea etched her name in history, becoming just the fourth filly to conquer the colts in the Spring Champion Stakes, following in the hoofprints of Montefilia (2020), Maid Of Heaven (2018), and Yankee Rose (2016).

Payne, a trainer with over 100 Group 1 victories to his name across a distinguished career that commenced in South Africa and spans almost sixty years, instructed Lloyd to take the initiative with Proxima Dea.

“I said to Zac she will outstay them, we can’t have a sit and sprint,” Payne said.

“I told him if nothing goes, you go, get up outside the leader and go early on her. I said to Zac they won’t stay with her, she will just keep going.

“We know the further the better with this filly so she can go to the Oaks now.

“The extra 500m won’t be a problem, she will love it and we can give her an easier ride.”

This triumph marked Payne’s third win in the Spring Champion Stakes, adding to his previous victories with Montefilia (2020) and Ace High (2017).

When questioned about a comparison between Proxima Dea and Montefilia, Payne responded: “This filly keeps surprising me.”

“This filly keeps surprising me.”

“Montefilia was a good filly but I think she (Proxima Dea) stays better than Montefilia,” he stated.

Despite battling a severe head cold, Lloyd was determined not to miss the chance to ride Proxima Dea.

“To be fair after about 400m I thought it was game over,” Lloyd admitted.

“I have a lot of faith in her. I knew how tough she was last start. When I got outside the lead, pretty comfortably I knew it was going to be awfully hard to get to her and then also get past her.

“The fact she was a length or two in front of her main rivals filled me with confidence because she was always going to be the strongest late.”

Proxima Dea’s rapid ascent from maiden status to Group 1 glory within her initial preparation is a truly remarkable narrative.

Her racing career commenced in July with a victory on a heavy track at Randwick. She followed this with two wins in August against more experienced horses before being given a break. She then captured the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, paving the way for Payne’s third Spring Champion Stakes win, following Montefilia (2020) and Ace High (2017).

“And that was her easiest win today and it was in a Group 1,” Lloyd remarked.

“She is a beauty, just tries her hardest. It’s so hard to do what she has done to win five in a row. The world is her oyster.”

Lloyd also expressed his particular satisfaction in securing a Group 1 victory for Payne.

“My Dad (Jeff) rode a lot for Mr Payne and they are great friends,” Lloyd shared.

“It means a lot to win this race for him, he’s an incredible trainer.”

Jockey Dylan Gibbons offered no excuses for Flight Stakes heroine and favourite Global Goal’s commendable second placing.

“She couldn’t have gone any better. She left her heart out there at the 100m but the winner was just too good on the day,” Gibbons commented.

Cormier, who attempted to lead all the way, showed great tenacity in finishing third, according to jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

“He was really good, he ran out the trip well for the first time,” McEvoy said. “He feels as though he will stay further.”

For the latest racing odds and betting markets for the Spring Champion Stakes, check out these Australian betting sites.