The battle to be crowned Champion First Season Sire in Australia this season is an intriguing one with Charge Forward in front on earnings and three other rivals tied on seven individual winners each.

Encosta de Lago heads Coolmore 2009 Service Fees at $220,000.

Figures released by Michael Ford, Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, show that Thoroughbred coverings for 2008 will be around 26,100 mares with Fastnet Rock (pictured) the busiest of all stallions last spring covering 248 mares at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley.

Damian Gleeson’s Phoenix Broodmare Farm heads to this year’s William Inglis & Son Great Southern Sale with a draft of eight quality broodmares in foal to both proven stallions and also some very exciting prospects.

The 2007 William Inglis & Son Australian Select Weanling & Broodmare Sale catalogue is now online .