Bookmakers and a few punters were cheering at Randwick on Saturday when long shot Sarrera caused a boil over in the $500,000, Group I, Patinack Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Not previously thought to be up to this class, more a wet tracker who is a chance in anything in heavy going, Sarrera upset multiple group one winner Tuesday Joy (Boss) and AJC Derby winner Nom Du Jeu (Lloyd). His last win was the Warrnambool Cup in heavy going a year ago, and his career best performance came in the Listed Nad Al Sheba Stakes at Caulfield on a bog track in 2005.

With Damien Oliver riding, Sarrera settled at the rear of the field with a strong tempo set upfront by Desert War (Shinn). Coming to the turn, while Desert War tried to steal a break on the field, Oliver and Sarrera cut the corner, coming from last to be right in the firing line within 150m.

In the straight the going got a little heavier, this brought Desert War back to the field with Sarrera pushing along at the inside of the field to hit the lead from Nom Du Jeu with $1.90 favourite Tuesday Joy only battling down the outside.

In the end Sarrera held off Nom Du Jeu by a head with Tuesday Joy two and a half lengths away in third place. The overall time was 2.03.50 with the last 600m run in 36.89. Sarrera paid $47.40 with NSWTAB. On track the gelding was backed from 100 to 1 into 50 to 1 with bookmakers, so it wasn’t all bad news for some punters.

Surprised trainer Mike Moroney said they had been aiming at this race for months after wet conditions were forecast through the carnival.

“The (weather) was a concern. We studied the weather forecasts and even a month out we thought we would aim him at the race and then the forecast ended up wrong and the rain didn’t come and I just wondered whether the ground would be wet enough for him because he is unbeaten in wet ground,” Moroney said.

“It was a good ride by Damien, we sorted of decided to go back, when I saw him last on his own I was a bit worried but he took the shortcuts and he’s a good tough horse.

“I never thought the horse would be a group one performer. He went pretty ordinary in the Melbourne Cup, the track was pretty firm and he probably doesn’t get the 3200m.

“He won the Warrnambool Cup this time last year with a fair bit of weight on his back so we always thought he was a big strong horse and weight for age would be his go.

“We thought Mission Critical and our horse in the Cup (Resolution) would be the two but this is a nice surprise,” he said. The result was a nice surprise for jockey Damien Oliver.

“We thought it might be a little dry for him, he has good wet track form. During the run he was back there last but there was good pace and coming to the turn where the track is a little bit worse some of the other horses probably struggled a little bit but he really came into his own because it was a little bit softer.”

By Quest For Fame out of the Zabeel mare Zamsong , Sarrera is owned by R Legh, G G Syndicate (Mgr: G G Peterson), N J Griffin, Gurners Bloodstock Co (Mgr: A Ramsden), P F O'Mara & H A Hansen. The victory was his seventh from 32 starts and he has now amassed $ 701,850 in prizemoney.

Sarrera has been a great money spinner for connections following his purchase for $100,000 at the 2002 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.

Sarrera is one of two winners from two runners for the unraced Zabeel mare Zamsong. Her dam Zamcherie is a full sister to the 1988 Australian Horse of the Year Beau Zam, the first horse in Australian thoroughbred history to win $2 million.

Warhorse Desert War finished a fighting fourth in what was the last race of his career. The AJC made a presentation to connections after the event to commemorate his career which included victories in the 2007 Queen Elizabeth and the 2004 and 2005 Epsom Handicaps.