Well-related filly Proxima Dea made a perfect start to her career at Randwick on Saturday with an all-the-way debut victory in the A$160,000 Elite Sand and Soil 2YO Handicap (1400m).
The daughter of Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino is a full-sister to the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) winner Gypsy Goddess, who was the Champion Australian 3YO Filly of 2021/2022.
Trainer David Payne gave Proxima Dea an extensive education at the trials before Saturday’s debut, lining up in six heats between December and June. She finished second over 1030m in the most recent of those appearances at Rosehill on June 30.
Proxima Dea went into Saturday’s race under the radar of the punters as a $51 outsider, but she vastly outperformed those odds with a front-running victory that Payne believes could be a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
“I think she's going to make a good horse, she's my Oaks filly for the spring,” he said.
Proxima Dea jumped sharply from her wide gate and was pushed forward by jockey Reece Jones to take up the lead. That was where she stayed until the home turn, but challengers loomed ominously behind her coming into the straight and she looked like being swallowed up into the pack.
However, Proxima Dea lifted again, fighting back tenaciously when A$1.4 million yearling Defensemen drew up alongside her. The pair went stride for stride to the finish, with Proxima Dea snatching victory by a nose. The third-placed Woodenbridge finished two and a half lengths behind the first pair.
“When the other horse loomed up, she showed real grit and determination to fight to the line,” Jones said. “She's had plenty of trials to learn her craft, but she's got a lot of upside and is still raw and learning.
“Mr Payne said to try and ride her a bit quiet in front, being a big, leggy filly with a nice action.
“When we rolled forward, we got there comfortably and built a nice rhythm from there and gave her a good experience.”
Payne was pleased with how Proxima Dea’s first raceday appearance played out.
“I said to Reece to go out and make them stay and run along because she's got that big, strong action,” he said.
“Since we started with her, she's always shown us she can run a bit, but we've been trying to pull her back in trials and she didn't appreciate it. So I think she's a filly that you've got to let stride, and we saw that today.”
Proxima Dea was bred by Transtasman Breeders Pty Ltd and was offered by North Bloodstock at the 2025 Easter Yearling Sale, where she was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for A$300,000. Saturday’s debut victory earned the filly A$82,500 in stakes.
The dam of Proxima Dea is the Redoute’s Choice mare Invisible Coin, who has produced five other winning progeny, including Gypsy Goddess and the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) placegetter Bitcoin. – NZ Racing Desk.
