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Proxima Dea remains undefeated to win G1 Spring Champion

24th Oct 2026

The stunning rise of undefeated 3YO Proxima Dea (Tarzino) reached its crescendo at Randwick today when the filly defeated the boys to win the $2m G1 Spring Champion Stakes.

Now undefeated from five career starts, Proxima Dea has risen from a late-season 2YO winner on debut to a G1 victor in the space of a 14-week preparation for trainer David Payne.

She won a four-horse Midway Class 1 three starts ago, a Midway Hcp two starts ago and took the step up into black type company last start, winning the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill.

And at headquarters today Payne asked his star filly to take one more leap – into G1 company against the colts and geldings – and Proxima Dea acquitted herself with aplomb, defeating another G1 winner Global Goal in a quinella for Inglis graduates.

In doing so, Proxima Dea (pictured) took her career earnings to $1.6m.

Payne – who was also the last trainer to win the Spring Champion Stakes with a filly prior to today with Inglis graduate Montefilia in 2020 - was ecstatic with the result.

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

“I said to [jockey] Zac [Lloyd] she will outstay them, we can’t have a sit and sprint. I told him if nothing goes, you go, get up outside the leader and go early on her because we know the further the better with this filly.

“She can go to the [G1 VRC] Oaks now. The extra 500m won’t be a problem, she will love it and we can give her an easier ride.

“This filly keeps surprising me. Montefilia was a good filly but I think she stays better than Montefilia, I think Montefilia was maybe maximum 2000m.’’

Bred by Transtasman Breeders, Proxima Dea is a $300,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Ciaron Maher Racing from the North Bloodstock draft.

Proxima Dea becomes the 128^th individual Inglis graduate to win a G1 since 2018.

She will now head to the G1 VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 5.

Meanwhile the 3YO colt Central Europe (Frankel) scored a deserving black type victory when winning the $1m G3 Callander-Presnell at Randwick today.

The Chris Waller-trained Central Europe has raced exclusively at Stakes level throughout his career, being twice Group placed at two as well as Stakes placed at three prior to today.

He had contested feature races the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Caulfield Guineas at his past two starts and nobody would begrudge him of today’s success.

Waller teamed up with Guy Mulcaster to purchase the Katom-bred Central Europe for $750,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Coolmore.

“He’s had a pretty luckless preparation and probably a luckless career up to this point so I’m glad he got that win there today,’’ Mulcaster said.

“He’s always promised us a lot and I think he’ll be even better in the autumn.’’

Central Europe defeated Why So Hard and Lafite today in a Stakes trifecta for Inglis graduates.

And Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel) saw her prizemoney balance crash through the $1m mark when she proved too strong in the Five Diamonds Prelude.

The 5YO mare was already G1 placed prior to today behind Treasurethe Moment in last year’s Vinery Stud Stakes and started favourite today following a luckless performance in the G1 Epsom Hcp last start earlier this month.

Cameron Cooke and Waltrin teamed up to buy Declichy Boulevard for $380,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Kulani Park.

The Chris Waller-trained Declichy Boulevard will now push on to the $2m Five Diamonds at Rosehill in a fortnight.

Declichy Boulevard races in the colours of her owners Kevin and Vikky Payne.

Meanwhile the graduate success of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale continued to strengthen at Flemington today when the 3YO colt Buggsy (Harry Angel) won the G3 Red Anchor Stakes.

Now a three-time winner from six starts, Buggsy could soon be given his chance at G1 glory as connections consider backing him up in next weekend’s Coolmore Stud Stakes, also at Flemington.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr bought Buggsy for $300,000 at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, out of the Hannover Lodge draft.

“I had him in the paddock after his form was [only] OK. But [assistant trainer] Ben Elam did present a case…and said ‘the Red Anchor will fall away’ and it fell away so right time, right place so instead of him being in the paddock with me chopping him, he’s a Group 3 winner,’’ Mick Price said.

“Now here he is, a winner. Horses that have good experience down the straight, it helps for sure. I’ll get a call about a Coolmore next week now, you watch.’’

Buggsy joins the likes of Tron Bolt, Hard Kick and Queen Regent as Stakes winners out of last year’s Ready2Race Sale.

And progressive 3YO Caddington (Captivant) led in a trifecta of Inglis graduates in today’s Listed Crockett Stakes at Flemington, defeating Aroused and Chayan.

Trained by Liam Howley, Caddington won her maiden by almost five lengths a fortnight ago and stepped up to Stakes grade in the best way possible, scoring an emphatic victory.

Caddington is a Classic Yearling Sale graduate for her breeder Kia Ora Stud. She races in pink silks, having been leased to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.