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Unbeaten filly Proxima Dea further enhanced her reputation as one of the most exciting staying prospects in Australian racing, extending her flawless record to six-from-six with a dominant victory in the 2026 Crown Oaks results at Flemington on Thursday.

The red-hot favourite justified her $2.10 quote in the Group 1 $1 million VRC Crown Oaks (2500m), overcoming a wide run throughout before powering away under rising star jockey Zac Lloyd to defeat 40/1 roughie Shameful Impulse by 1¾ lengths, with Wakeful Stakes winner De Armas narrowly holding third.

2026 VRC Crown Oaks Results

Can't stop, won't stop ?

PROXIMA DEA makes it a perfect six wins from six starts with victory in the Group 1 Crown Oaks over 2500m.#OaksDay pic.twitter.com/lJfDCqSaiy

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 5, 2026

The success gave veteran horseman David Payne another major Group 1 victory and capped a remarkable first preparation for the daughter of Tarzino, who has now won both Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and Oaks during an unbeaten six-start campaign.

Proxima Dea Continues Perfect Rise

Already regarded as one of the standout fillies of her generation, Proxima Dea again showcased her staying prowess over the classic Oaks distance.

Despite covering plenty of extra ground throughout the race, the progressive filly never looked in danger once Lloyd released the brakes in the home straight.

For Payne, the result not only delivered another elite-level victory but also sparked thoughts of even greater staying targets in the future.

“I want to win the Melbourne Cup, so maybe I’ll have to hang in there,” he told Racing Victoria post-win on Thursday.

“Maybe next year at the Melbourne Cup, who knows? We’ll have a look at it and see, why not, if she matures? We know she’ll get the trip anyway.”

Melbourne Cup Dream Already Emerging

While the 2027 Melbourne Cup remains a long-range ambition, Payne’s immediate priority is allowing the filly the opportunity to mature after an outstanding first campaign.

“She’ll have a good spell and we’ll let her mature,” he said.

“She’s got to mature, she’s still a baby, but she has the heart.

“I’m very fortunate the owners gave her to me.

“We have a good team behind us and it’s about time we won a decent race here.”

The trainer was particularly delighted to share the success with flying young jockey Lloyd, whose father spent many years riding successfully for the stable.

“He rode for me for 10 years and now his son is riding for me, it’s unbelievable,” Payne said.

Oaks Target From Day One

Payne revealed the Crown Oaks had been the filly’s main goal throughout her preparation.

“She’s such a good mover and I think she doesn’t spend an ounce of energy,” he said.

“She’s bred to stay and from day one I said the Oaks and I stuck to it.

“Maybe I should have gone for the Derby. I don’t know.”

After winning six straight races including two Group 1s, a well-earned spell is now on the agenda.

“Now she’ll go for a holiday now, she deserves it,” Payne added.

“This is her first prep, she’s won six in a row and two Group Ones.”

Despite her achievements, Payne joked that Proxima Dea did not exactly stand out physically when she first entered the stable.

“It’s not a beauty parade, but when she first came into the yard, we looked at her and I thought, ‘Gee, there’s nothing of her’, but she’s tough,” he said.

The veteran trainer even suggested she could surpass another of his outstanding mares.

“She would have (stayed) but we rode her wrong, but this filly might be better, who knows?” Payne remarked.

Lloyd Produces Another Big Race Ride

Rising star jockey Lloyd was full of praise for the filly after she overcame a difficult run to remain unbeaten.

“She’s unbelievable,” he said.

“That was spine tingling.”

The young hoop explained how the race unfolded from his perspective after finding himself caught deep in the early stages.

“She jumped really well and there was a bit of jostling for a spot early and I didn’t want to be the one working into that bend,” Lloyd explained.

“I came out of the speed knowing that I might get caught wide but I was hoping the speed would increase down the side and have my chance to get in.”

Rather than panic, Lloyd trusted the quality of the horse underneath him.

“I had to take what I was given and trust I was on the best stayer on the day, and that she was,” he said simply.

“She’s a Proper Star”

Lloyd believed the filly’s superior stamina was the difference.

“Although I was wide, we weren’t going quick and I was in a straight line, so I just focused on her,” he said.

“She was in a lovely rhythm.

“She was very, very just on it, ready for me today and David’s training was fantastic.”

As challengers emerged approaching the home turn, Proxima Dea simply found another gear.

“I don’t know how far we ended up winning by, but she covered a lot more ground than the rest of them,” he sadmitted.

“I felt one challenge at about the 200-300 metre mark but she just keeps getting stronger and stronger and fifty metres later that horse was gone.

“So she’s a proper star.”

The youngster had been impressed by Proxima Dea from the very beginning.

“She’s got the lungs for it, that’s for sure,” Lloyd said.

“She beat me at her first start over 1400 and once I got beaten I went and looked at her trials and thought, ‘How the hell did this beat me?’

“I can see why now.

“She’s a special girl.”

Crown Oaks Success Caps Huge Year

The Oaks triumph added another career highlight to Lloyd’s breakout season.

“And now to get a Group 1 in Melbourne,” he said.

“Hopefully I can keep on coming back for these carnivals and take a bit of money.”

The jockey never doubted the filly’s ability to see out the famous Oaks trip.

“She’s got the right trainer to do it.

“We said all along, as long as David was confident, I had nothing to worry about.

“She’s bred to do it but she might be the best one on the page.

“That was some performance.”

Importantly, Lloyd believes the further she races, the better she gets.

“You can see her record, she won by little margins in 1400, a mile, 1800,” he said.

“But once she stepped up to 2000 against the boys in the Spring Champion, she won comfortably.

“And then today she won even more dominantly so she’s obviously a very good stayer.”

The latest Crown Oaks results confirmed what many punters already suspected: Proxima Dea is a filly of exceptional staying talent. Now unbeaten through six starts and a dual Group 1 winner, the daughter of Tarzino has stamped herself as one of the stars of the spring and, if Payne’s prediction proves correct, perhaps one day a genuine Melbourne Cup contender.

Already the bookmakers are taking no chances with Proxima Dea firming in from $26 to $17 in very early betting at Ladbrokes on the 167th edition of the Group 1 $10.2 million Melbourne Cup race next November.

Full VRC Crown Oaks 2026 Results & Finishing Order