Industry rumours were confirmed yesterday when it was announced the two-time New Zealand Cup winner would stand at Yirribee Pacing Stud, near Wagga Wagga, in the spring.
Though New Zealand-based studs missed out on the rights to the Bettor's Delight stallion, he will be available to breeders here for a fee of $10,000 plus GST.
The fee will be $A10,000, including GST, in Australia, where he will stand beside fellow New Zealand-bred Tin Tin In America.
In a ground-breaking result, it was not a case of an Australian stud beating its New Zealand counterparts in securing the breeding rights.
The Inter Dominion winner has been backed by the New South Wales Harness Racing Club, which operates Menangle raceway.
Yirribee Pacing Stud studmaster Rod Woodhouse said he was delighted to be able to stand one of the best pacers in Australasian history on behalf of the club.
''He is certainly an exceptional animal.
''When someone like Mark Purdon says he is an absolute champion, and I don't use champion lightly, you realise how good he must be.
''We will have an open day when he gets here and let everyone have a good look at him.''
Woodhouse said one of the major benefits of the newly secured deal was that the club would inject the profits from Lazarus' service fees back into New South Wales harness racing.
''The big thing is that Menangle will reinvest any profits they make into the industry; it is not going to America or anywhere else.
''We are very lucky that we have had support from Menangle Park.''
Bookings for New Zealand mares would be handled by experienced breeding administrator Peter O'Rourke, Woodhouse said.
It is understood that although New Zealand-based studs missed out on securing Lazarus, it was not through a lack of trying.
Their bids ultimately failed when Lazarus' North American owners signed with the New South Wales club.
