KEY POINTS:
The wild savage of Australian harness racing is set to become a New Zealander.
In a move that will terrify some local trainers, Safari is to be transferred to the Canterbury stable of Tim Butt and Phil Anderson over thewinter.
The move is being made with one major
target firmly in mind - the $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup in November.
The Butt-Anderson stable will take control of the now 8-year-old stallion in June, with stable reinsman Anthony Butt to drive.
This mirrors what happened two years ago when the stable was given veteran Australian iron horse Flashing Red to train and against all odds won two New Zealand Cups and the Auckland Cup with the champion stayer.
On his form in the last three months, Safari is at least as good as Flashing Red, if not a little more formidable because he has superior gate speed.
Safari stunned the harness racing world by sitting outside triple Interdominion champion Blacks A Fake and beating him in the Ballarat Cup in January before setting a Moonee Valley track record in his Interdominion semifinal in February.
He was also fourth in both the Hunter Cup and Interdominion Final after being forced to sit parked from bad draws.
Safari has been troubled throughout his career by leg problems but if he returns to his best form for his new trainers he will simply be too tough for most of New Zealand's best pacers.
He will start off the front in the New Zealand Cup and at his peak would easily break 4:0 for the 3200m from a standing start.
Driver Anthony Butt says he is thrilled about the move.
"He is a hell of a horse, at least as good as Red and possibly better on their Australian form.
"We are rapt to be getting him and I think he could do some amazing things over here."
Safari is trained in Victoria by Emma Stewart but the move to New Zealand makes sense on many levels.
The New Zealand Cup is a logical aim for him as it suits his massive stamina reserves, whereas his major pre-Christmas target in Australia would be the Miracle Mile, hardly an ideal race for him.
Any major victory in New Zealand would also boost his stallion value here - enhancing a future career because he is the best stallion son of Australia's greatest sire, Fake Left.
And his arrival will keep New Zealand's other open class pacers on edge in more ways than one.
Not only will he ensure all the races he contests are "gutbusters" but he is also a parade ring maniac - often snorting wildly and getting extremely aggressive before major races.
His planned move to the Butt-Anderson stable comes as they lose wonderful mare Foreal, who has been retired this week.
The Interdominion placegetter had been racing below her best and will become a broodmare. Butt said: "We are glad she retires while healthy."
SAFARI TIME
* Leading Australian pacer Safari is moving to New Zealand.
* He will be trained by Tim Butt and Phil Anderson, who won the last two New Zealand Cups with Flashing Red.
* Safari will be set for the New Zealand Cup in November.
* Former Interdominion placegetter Foreal has been retired.