Rowe On Monday – Proxima Dea finds a way to Payne, Queensland honours its best, and Aquis’ Davies heads south 

Payne’s gain

For a trainer with just 16 horses in work, veteran David Payne has every reason to be excited about what the next two to three months could hold.

The Rosehill-based trainer has Bangkok Hottie, a last-start third in the Silver Shadow, heading to the Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and Persian Wonder caught the eye when fifth in the Up and Coming last weekend.

But it is an unbeaten filly who also raced at Rosehill last weekend who may be the best of the trio.

Tarzino three-year-old Proxima Dea – a sister to Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess who was bought by Ciaron Maher for $300,000 at the 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale – brought up the hat-trick with her Midway win at Rosehill on Saturday, leading to Payne to compare her to three-time Group 1-winning mare Montefilia.

Payne trained Montefilia to win the Group 1 Flight Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes as a spring three-year-old and it is the latter that may serve as the Sydney springboard on her way to a VRC Oaks campaign with Proxima Dea.

She is raced by Andy Giles, Hugh Docherty and Caroline Vincent and if it wasn’t for some misfortune on her breeders’ behalf, she could have been at Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm with Maher instead of Rosehill if things had panned out differently.

“It’s a funny story. I trained for them (the owners) as I bought Montefilia for them and they said to me, ‘we’ve bred this filly, can you look at her at the sales?’,” Payne told this column.

“So, I looked at her and I said, ‘she’s immature, she could take time’. I asked what the reserve was and they said $300,000. I told them, ‘sorry, I haven’t got that kind of money’.”

At the Easter sale, with her price reaching the reserve, she was signed for by Ciaron Maher who was going to put an ownership group together to race the filly. 

“But six months down the line, they phoned me up and asked would I train the filly, so I don’t think they could have put (the syndicate) together and they kept her,” Payne said.

He’s sure glad he received that call for a filly whose unbeaten run might still be underrated considering it was in the Midway.

“With the weight for age scale, that was a very good effort because they’re still weak, they’re not as strong as the older horses,” he said. 

“You’re taking the tough old horses on. They might not be as good, but they’re like a boxer; it’s the same thing, they’re tough.

“And I think she’ll stay better than Montefilia who was more a 2000m filly whereas Proxima Dea will go two miles and stay all day.”

Persian Wonder, a Canterbury maiden winner first-up in July, could clash with Proxima Dea in the Spring Champion.

“He had the fastest last 600m (in the Up and Coming), so once he gets to 1600m, maybe even the Spring Champion, (he will come into his own),” he said.

Nolan’s honour well deserved

Raheen Stud’s Basil Nolan was on Sunday inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame, worthy recognition for a man (and family) who has devoted his life to the industry.

Nolan only recently stood down as president of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and it was that organisation which led the chorus of congratulations.

“There are very few people who have given as much to Australian thoroughbred breeding as Basil has over such a long period of time,” new TBA president Antony Thompson said. 

“He has always understood that breeders need a strong voice, and he has never been afraid to use his.

“What makes Basil particularly special is that everything he has done has come from a genuine wish to better the industry.” 

Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland vice-president Scott McAlpine also praised Nolan.

“For his decades of leadership, advocacy and unwavering commitment, Basil Nolan’s induction into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame is not only deserved, it is overdue,” Eureka Stud’s McAlpine said.

Most importantly, TBQA executive officer Stacey Silver acknowledged the contribution of Nolan’s wife Di.

“Di also deserves recognition today for all her hard work, sacrifices and dedication behind the scenes that has supported Basil in his role, kept the farm and family going in his absences while raising their six beautiful children,” Silver said. 

“They’ve been a true partnership, and today’s honour is really for them both.”

The long odds-on favourite who was almost overlooked 

Sheza Gypsy, the dam of Sheza Alibi, was also crowned Queensland Broodmare of the Year, a fait accompli most would have thought.

But we can reveal that, firstly, Sheza Gypsy was almost overlooked in the nominations and, secondly, her title wasn’t unanimous. It’s hard to believe that the voting committee didn’t all see it that way!

Queensland warhorse Rothfire, who is set to resume in Saturday’s Moir Stakes at Sandown, has a large and parochial fanclub and we can understand why given his setbacks and longevity.

For that reason, Rothfire’s dam Huss On Fire also received votes on the back of the gelding’s Sydney Stakes and Doomben 10,000 victories last season.

Sheza Gypsy was bought last year for $1250 by Kenmore Lodge’s Cameron and Kellie Bond.

Davies on the move

Long-time Aquis Farm employee Jonathan Davies will soon ditch the board shorts and head to Victoria for a new opportunity.

While the new role is yet to be announced, Davies will relocate south with his family to undertake the new job that will see him remain in the thoroughbred industry.

“It has been an incredible journey and I’m enormously grateful for the opportunities, experiences and friendships that have come with it,” Davies wrote to clients on Monday of his nine-and-a-half years with Aquis.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with some great horses and, more importantly, some great people. 

“To everyone who has supported Aquis and me personally over that time, thank you. I’ve genuinely enjoyed working with you and hopefully we’ve had a bit of fun along the way.”

JD is another of the industry’s hardworking good guys who we’re sure will succeed interstate.