Proxima Dea won the Group 1 Crown Oaks at Flemington on Thursday, 5 November 2026, staying unbeaten with six wins from six starts — and setting her sights on the Melbourne Cup.
The David Payne-trained filly, ridden by Zac Lloyd, started as the 2.10 favourite in the 2,500-metre, 1-million-dollar fillies’ classic. She beat 41-dollar outsider Shameful Impulse by one and three-quarter lengths, with Wakeful Stakes winner De Armas third. The winning time was 2 minutes 37.95 seconds.
It was the 168th running of the fillies’ classic, and Proxima Dea overcame the widest draw in the field — barrier 19 — to win. She had to cover extra ground throughout before surging clear in the straight.
The win came 12 days after she beat the colts in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2,000 metres at Randwick on 24 October, making her the first horse to complete the Spring Champion Stakes–Oaks Group 1 double.
Proxima Dea is a daughter of Tarzino, the 2015 Victoria Derby winner, and a sister of 2022 Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess. She debuted with a win at Randwick on 11 July 2026, 117 days before the Oaks.
The victory gave Lloyd his first Group 1 win in Melbourne. Trainer Payne, in his 54th year training, said she might be the horse he has waited his whole career for. Connections have now set a Melbourne Cup target for her, and the 600,000-dollar winner’s cheque went to her connections after she beat 15 rivals.
The Melbourne Cup carnival closes on Saturday, 7 November, with three 3-million-dollar Group 1 races on Champions Stakes Day.
Australian sport has delivered a string of big stories this week, from the death of Australian F1 world champion Alan Jones at 80 to the RBA cash rate hitting an 18-year high. Proxima Dea’s perfect record is the latest chapter.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.