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Proxima Dea does it again with stunning Oaks victory

5th Nov 2026

Proxima Dea (Tarzino) – the filly of the spring - scored a remarkable win in today’s VRC Oaks at Flemington, defying a wide run in transit to secure a memorable victory in the G1 feature at Flemington.

Unraced just 15 weeks ago, the David Payne-trained 3YO has been the success story of the carnival.

She is undefeated from six starts and is now already a dual G1 winner, having won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at her final lead-up to today’s Oaks.

Proxima Dea today became the first unbeaten filly to win the Oaks in the Group 1 era of the race.

Purchased at the Easter Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher for $300,000, Proxima Dea has now won $2.2m in prizemoney.

Bred by Transtasman Breeders, Proxima Dea was offered by North Bloodstock at Easter.

Proxima Dea has often been described as an “ugly duckling’’ by her trainer and others but North’s Mick Malone couldn’t disagree more.

“I guess it’s easy in hindsight but I always loved her. She always showed balance, she was such a good mover, she’s an absolute beauty,’’ Malone said.

“She’s a quality filly and she’s always been a quality filly. Her pedigree says she was going to take time but inevitably she won as a 2YO and now is a dual G1 winner as a spring 3YO.

“That was a really good draft we had at Easter last year and we’ve got really nice drafts for both Classic and Easter next year so 2027 is going to be another strong one for North.’’

Winning trainer Payne was ecstatic with today’s result, already dreaming of next year’s G1 Melbourne Cup with Proxima Dea.

“Who knows, but we’ll have a look at it and see and if she matures, then who knows? We know she’ll get the trip, anyway,’’ Payne said of a potential Melbourne Cup start in 12 months for Proxima Dea.

“She’ll have a good spell now and we’ll let her mature. She’s got to mature because she’s still a baby but she’s got the heart.

“She’s such a good mover and I think she doesn’t spend an ounce of energy. She’s bred to stay and from day one I said ‘The Oaks’ and I stuck to it.

“This is her first prep, she’s won six in a row and two Group 1s so she deserves a break now.’’

Proxima Dea is one of 129 individual G1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018.

She led in a Inglis graduates G1 quinella today, defeating Shameful Impulse.