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.

Widden Stud is in mourning following the loss of outstanding sire General Nediym, who was euthanized on Monday morning following a recurrence of the colic he suffered last month.

A buoyant sale year concluded on an extremely positive note for William Inglis & Son as buyers thronged to the Oaklands sale complex in Melbourne today where 176 horses sold at an average of $7,045 achieving a gross of $1,240,000, a healthy increase of 32% over last year.