Proxima Dea, while not the most visually appealing, is steadily building a devoted following after she maintained her faultless racing record in the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Her trainer, the highly respected David Payne, is unquestionably her number one 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 declared.

“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, starting as the $3.70 favourite, was ridden with considerable poise by leading Sydney jockey Zac Lloyd before striding away to win by one-and-a-half lengths. Global Goal ($2.80 favourite) finished second, with the fillies quinella secured as early leader Cormier ($16) held on for third, a short head adrift.

Proxima Dea achieved a significant milestone, becoming just the fourth filly to defeat the colts in the Spring Champion Stakes, following the footsteps of Montefilia (2020), Maid Of Heaven (2018), and Yankee Rose (2016).

Payne, who has amassed over 100 Group 1 victories throughout an illustrious career that commenced in South Africa and spans nearly six decades, instructed Lloyd to ensure Proxima Dea was forward in the run.

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

“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 victory represented Payne’s third triumph in the Spring Champion Stakes, adding to his wins with Montefilia (2020) and Ace High (2017).

When asked to compare Proxima Dea with Montefilia, Payne commented: “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 added.

Despite battling a heavy cold, Lloyd was determined not to miss the opportunity 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 progression from a maiden galloper to a Group 1 winner during her debut preparation is a truly remarkable story.

She commenced her racing career in July, winning on a heavy track at Randwick. She then secured two wins in August against older horses before being spelled. She subsequently captured the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, setting the stage 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 commented.

“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 personal satisfaction in winning a Group 1 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 made no excuses for the brave second placing of Flight Stakes heroine and favourite Global Goal.

“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 stated.

Cormier, who attempted to lead throughout, showed considerable grit to finish 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.”

Check out the latest racing odds for the Spring Champion Stakes at leading bookmakers.