Rakero Rebel (NZ) Outstays Rivals in Group Three Geelong Cup

Rakero Rebel (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven) extended her perfect 2025 when pouncing on her rivals to win the A$40,000 Geelong Pacing Cup (2570m) on Friday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate made it two-from-two in the new year when charging late to win for trainer Jess Tubbs and driver Greg Sugars.

Rakero Rebel was freshened over summer before returning with an easy victory at Melton earlier this month.

Though the mare hadn’t had the recent racing some of her rivals had had recently, she still proved too strong at the end of a strong Geelong Cup staying test.

“I knew I’d be pretty close to the mark the way the race had unfolded but Mach Dan is a great old horse and I knew he’d be pretty hard to run past,” Sugars said

“And although she was impressive first up our mare only being second up and if they turned it into a real true staying test up the straight, she could be vulnerable but she stuck her head out.”

Rakero Rebel now has one of Australia’s biggest mares features in her sights.

Tubbs and Sugars will work the classy mare towards the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle in May.

The Tubbs stable secured Rakero Rebel from New Zealand owner Ronnie Dawe of Dawe Contracting Ltd after she’d made a good start to her racing career in New Zealand.

Dawe purchased the outstanding mare for $22,000 from the Dancingonmoonlight draft at the 2020 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

Under Tubbs and Sugars’ care, Rakero Rebel has gone on to win 14 races including the Group One Queen Of The Pacific (2760m) at Melton last year.

Along the way, the six-year-old has banked more than A$370,000 in earnings.

 

Vendor	Dancingonmoonlight Ltd
Purchaser	Dawe Contracting Ltd
Breeding	Rock N Roll Heaven – Timeless Perfection Brown Filly
Sale	2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch $22,000
Breeder	Dancingonmoonlight Ltd