The price is exclusive of GST and usual stud working fees will apply.

Magic Rule is set to travel home to New Zealand within the next two weeks and is eagerly awaited by the Globe Derby Society who negotiated the acquisition as part of its goal to promote, propagate and preserve the Globe Derby male line, which is unique to Australia and New Zealand.

Magic Rule is a 14-year-old son of Starship, the former brilliant juvenile who was placed second in both New Zealand's premier races, the New Zealand and Auckland Cups and time trial in a then record 1.54.5, a time that few New Zealand-bred horses have bettered to this day despite the massive infusion of high-speed American bloodlines.

Magic Rule was himself a winner of 10 races, seven of them at Harold Park in a rich patch when three and four, where he won nine out of 14 races before the injury which was to dog the rest of his career. His best time at Harold Park was an impressive 1.58.8 on that tight track, which suited his brilliant speed at both ends of a race.

Magic Rule brings not only the Globe Derby blood, through Starship, a member of New Zealand's greatest family, Norice, but on his dam side he is represented by three NZ sires of the year in his first three dams, Smooth Fella, Bachelor Hanover and Garrison Hanover. Add in Lordship and Johnny Globe on his sire's side, and there are no fewer than five NZ sires of the year in his first three lines.

Adding further to his appeal to breeders, is the fact that he brings in no fewer than four strains of U Scott, arguably New Zealand's most influential sire, and one which should match in well with the recent Direct Scooter infusion, while giving a genuine outcross to these mares.

The Globe Derby Society was officially formed at a meeting during sales week in Christchurch, New Zealand electing Canterbury breeder Andrew Lewis as its inaugural president. Its five man committee includes noted horseman Frank Bebbington, and Eyreton Stud's John Munro.

The society goals are to preserve, propagate and promote the line of standardbred which descends through Globe Derby to the fifth son of Hambletonian, Strathmore, which only lives on in Australia and New Zealand.

Kaylea Stud, Makarewa near Invercargill, will make Magic Rule available to breeders in both New Zealand and Australia in either chilled of frozen form while a second Globe Derby stallion Kurahaupo Lord, who stands in Victoria, will also be available to New Zealand breeders for the first time, through frozen semen.

Tuapeka Knight stallion, Knight Rainbow will also stand again at Kaylea Stud.

Kurahaupo Lord, who has been largely ignored by Australian breeders, is being kept in the limelight by the deeds of his mighty warhorse Tealsby Karita. It is hoped New Zealand breeders will be a little more willing to utilise the well performed son of Lordship who won 23 races and around $290,000.

The breed is in a perilous state with about a dozen stallions identified, with the most prominent being Vanderport stallion Pass The Mustard, whose stock has had a bumper month winning several races around Australia, led by the exciting Amadmancomesundone.

The Globe Derby Society is also now active in Australia where several harness racing enthusiasts in Victoria, New South Wales, Canberra and Tasmania have joined the newly formed society dedicated to the preservation of Down Under's native trotting horse, with plans to expand into the other states.

A website has been also been launched, globederby.com, and all those interested in joining the society can email globederby@hotmail.co.nz , or join the Globe Derby facebook page.

Dave SANDERS (Globe Derby Society)