The stud will be able to collect semen and have it available in both New Zealand and Australian breeders, for a great value fee to breeders who are wishing to inject some of the Globe Derby blood which is prominent in the bloodlines of so many NZ Cup winners.

Magic Rule, a beautifully bred son of Starship, was a very talented racehorse who suffered a tendon injury on the cusp of his emergence as a top line racehorse according to former owner Alan McIntosh, who is over the moon that his pride and joy is to get the chance his breeding and potential once promised.

Magic Rule was lightly raced as a two and three yearold, in New Zealand before he was sold to Australia on the recommendation of legendary horseman Mr J S Dalgety.

And it was as a four-year-old that he blossomed and won 9 races and was second three times in his first 16 races in Australia, before a tendon injury cut his extremely promising career.

He returned to the track nearly two years later and won once more in his fastest time of 1.58.8, again at Harold Park where his devastating sprint was able to create winning chances seven times on the extremely tight track. Although he never recaptured the four-year-old promise, he raced until he was nine years old, finishing up in Tasmania, where he was put to stud, but lightly patronised.

Even so from, his first crop of just three foals, he has one to the track, racing now as a four year old. Another from his second tiny crop of three, won at the workouts recently.

Brought back to Newcastle two years ago and put to much better mares, Magic Rule's original connections, have snapped up two of his weanling colts.

And former top line racehorse Kurahaupo Lord will also be available to breeders from the stud in frozen or chilled form, in a deal with his owner in Victoria, Melbourne where he has been lightly patronised but has still produced the outstanding Tealsby Karita (1.55.5, 25 wins $323,000).

From just 84 foals he has had 18 starters, 6 winners and an average of $21,000 per starter. It would be fair to say that the quality of mares presented to him were less than fair.

These exciting developments are the result of the work of a small group of horsemen on both sides of the Tasman behind the soon to be constituted Globe Derby Society, which although based in New Zealand has already had people from Australia, Canada and America ready to join and work towards the preservation of Australasia's native standardbred.

Six stallions have been found,including Magic Rule (Starship) and Kurahaupo Lord (Lordship), and besides theseis the only son of Lordship standing in New Zealand, General Grace, while in Australia the Globe Derby line is represented by Pass The Mustard (Vanderport), Rebel Lord (All The Kings Men) and Billy Joe Royal (Royal Force).

The Globe Derby Society will be holding its inaugural general meeting at the New Zealand Standardbred breeders association meeting rooms in 6 Burdale St, Riccarton at 7.30pm on Wednesday February 17.

The meeting rooms are in the Master Builders Association building in Burdale St which runs off Mandeville and Picton Sts, so is accessible from Blenheim and Riccarton Roads for out of town visitors.

David SANDERS