Veteran trainer David Payne and star jockey Zac Lloyd are dreaming big after Proxima Dea maintained her perfect winning record to salute in the $1 million Group 1 VRC Oaks.
Sent out as short-priced favourite, the three-year-old filly overcame a wide gate to beat Shameful Impulse ($41) and De Armas ($3.50) in Thursday's 168th running of the 2500m classic at Flemington.
The win bookended an astonishing maiden campaign for the sister of 2022 Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess.
Proxima Dea ($2.15) has not lost in her six starts, after debuting at Randwick in July.
"She's special," her Sydney-based trainer Payne said.
"She was three, four deep ... she's just much better than them. I want to win a Melbourne Cup so maybe I have to hang in there.
"She'll have a good spell now ... she's got to mature, she's just a baby but she's got the heart."
After claiming his first Melbourne Cup carnival Group 1 victory, Lloyd wasn't talking down Proxima Dea's prospects of running in the race that stops the nation.
"That was spine-tingling," said the young hoop, who currently leads the NSW Jockey Premiership by 13 wins.
"She's got the lungs for it (the Melbourne Cup), that's for sure.
"She beat me in her first start over 1400m, and once I got beat to her I went and looked at her trials and I was like 'how the hell has this beat me again', but I can see why now.
"She's a special filly."
It was Payne's first Oaks victory after falling short in 2020 when favourite Montefilia ran third behind Personal.
Proxima Dea was originally purchased by leading trainer Ciaron Maher as a yearling, but the sale fell through.
"I'm very fortunate the owners gave her to me," said Payne, winner of the Victoria Derby with Ace High in 2017.
"(We have a) good team behind us and it's about time we won a decent race."
Lloyd is the son of retired jockey Jeff Lloyd, a winner of thousands of races across his legendary international career.
The elder Lloyd was a stable jockey to Payne when he was 22 in 1981 and the pair have remained friends.
"He rode for me for 10 years and now his son is riding for me, it’s unbelievable," Payne said.
In the earlier Group 3 Red Roses Stakes, Maher-trained Lady Cataline ($16) upset favourite Sequinned ($1.80) in a photo finish after a drama-filled start.
I Am Algadon and Calamari Ring were both scratched on veterinary advice after the former reared in the gates.
The Melbourne Cup carnival concludes on Saturday with three $3 million Group 1s - the Champions Sprint, Champions Mile and Champions Stakes - on the card.
