Danehill’s son Fastnet Rock became the seventh straight Australian-bred winner of the sires’ premiership (after Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur and Lonhro) since the imported Danehill won his ninth crown in 2005.

Fastnet Rock, Australian champion sire of 2011/12

Fastnet Rock will stand for $220,000 (up from $132,000) at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley this season, the stud using the following figures to justify the increase in a tough economic climate — 38 of his progeny sold at an average of $305,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney.

The premiership figures helped, too, with the champion sire’s progeny earnings reaching a record $12.655m from 130 winners of 231 races. The previous season Fastnet Rock had 95 winners of 148 races for $5,651,553; and in 2009-10 the figures were 59, 101 races and $5,715,922.

Fastnet Rock’s biggest earner has been the filly Mosheen, with $1.976m. She had wins in the Crown Oaks (G1, 2500m), the Australian Guineas (G1, 1600m), the Randwick Guineas (G1, 1600m), the Vinery Stud Stakes (G1, 2000m), the Edward Manifold Stakes (G2, 1600m) and the Manfred Stakes (Listed, 1200m).

With 33 stakes winner in his first four crops, ‘the Rock’ has gone past Danehill (32) at the same stage of his stud career, although the Group 1 figure is 12-10 in Danehill’s favour.

Fastnet Rock’s other nine Group 1 winners were Atlantic Jewel, Planet Rock, Irish Lights, Wanted, Rock Classic, Sea Siren, Foxwedge, Lone Rock and Rock ’N’ Pop.

Lonhro (by Octagonal), the 2010-11 champion, was second, largely through the efforts of top two-year-old Pierro, who earned $2.946m. His wins included Sydney’s triple crown, the Golden Slipper Stakes (G1, 1200m), the Sires’ Produce Stakes (G1, 1400m) and the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).