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Rakero Rebel crowned Queen on Sportsbet Victoria Cup night

Rakero Rebel had to find in an extra gear in a blisteringly run race to salute in the time-honoured Benstud Queen Of The Pacific on Sportsbet Victoria Cup night.

Greg Sugars.
Greg Sugars. Picture: HRV

The Jess Tubbs- prepared mare was sent out at $8.50 with Sportsbet heading into the 2760m event.

The Greg Sugars-driven mare had to work hard out of the gate after drawing nine and was forced to sit parked while favourite, the Jason Grimson-prepared Aardies Express had a soft time of leading through the early stages.

The daughter out of Timeless Perfection had to ware down the favourite to come home in a blistering final quarter pace of 27.3 for a mile rate of 1.55.

Sugars, 39, was ecstatic after his 62nd Group 1 victory.

"It was super exciting, racing in that sort of style when you get a late split and hit the line it is always pretty exciting," Sugars said.

"I sort of knew rounding the corner that I had a lot of horse left, but whether the gaps were going to come in time to say I was a winning hope.

"I never got clear till I was probably half-way up the straight, she was just that quick over a short period of time and the distance just got us over the line."

Part owner, Gary Jarvis was also on track to share in the spoils.

"She (Rakero Rebel) is a good mare and she was probably due for a win," Jarvis said. "It is all credit to Jess (Tubbs) and Greg (Sugars). It is just magnificent, just unbelievable."

The Sugars and Tubbs pairing added to their Queen Of The Pacific win with a victory in the Bill Collins Trotters Sprint with squaregaiting star, Just Believe.

The Jason Grimson-prepared, Aardies Express and the Jason Lee-driven, Jilliby Willow rounded out the minor placings.