Every stallion that hits the seriously big time has a magic year or two that takes them from being a very good sire to a legend and once the legend is established they can continue to tick over and rake in the money for their owners for as long as they are able.It happened for Zabeel between 1997 and 1999, when a flurry of high class performers in Might and Power, Jezabeel, Champagne, Mouawaad and Inaflury came along to prove Octagonal was no fluke.
It happened for Redoute's Choice from 2005 to 2006 when he sired back to back winners of the Blue Diamond / Golden Slipper double – Stratum and Undoubtedly followed up by Miss Finland and Nadeem.
For those two sires the legend was made and they're still going strong, but in the last 12 months a new contender has put up his hand for legend status and it's Fastnet Rock(pictured).
Most people would forget that Fastnet Rock was not the Champion First Season Sire of 2008/2009, with that honour going to Charge Forward, whose daughter Headway finished second in the Golden Slipper.
2008/2009 Leading Australian First Season Sires by Earnings
| Stallion | Rnrs | Wnrs | SW(SWins) | Earnings | Best Performer |
| Charge Forward | 31 | 7 | 1(2) | $1,157,550 | Headway - 776,263 |
| FASTNET ROCK | 55 | 12 | 1(1) | $892,479 | Wanted - 202,500 |
| Dane Shadow | 29 | 6 | 1(1) | $703,245 | Shellscrape - 216,650 |
| Oratorio (AUS) | 17 | 5 | 1(1) | $621,750 | Gold Rocks - 370,500 |
| Shamardal (USA) | 33 | 12 | 0(0) | $534,634 | Marquardt - 153,375 |
He rebounded in 2009/2010 to be Champion Second Season Sire with nine stakes-winners of $5.7 million headed by Group I winners Wanted, Irish Lights and Rock Classic, although faced stiff competition from another upwardly mobile sire in High Chaparral (IRE).
2009/2010 Leading Australian Second Season Sires by Earnings
| Stallion | Rnrs | Wnrs | SW(SWins) | Earnings | Best Performer |
| FASTNET ROCK | 122 | 59 | 9(13) | $5,715,922 | Wanted - 1,013,500 |
| High Chaparral (IRE) | 31 | 16 | 4(9) | $5,369,787 | So You Think - 2,238,300 |
| Shamardal (USA) | 69 | 39 | 7(11) | $3,995,478 | Faint Perfume - 1,412,450 |
| Al Maher | 105 | 51 | 4(8) | $2,808,473 | Majestic Music - 670,315 |
| Not a Single Doubt | 95 | 43 | 1(1) | $2,242,313 | Doubtful Jack - 332,415 |
Having a legend making year of his own, High Chaparral was able to turn the tables on Fastnet Rock last season courtesy of Cox Plate hero So You Think and Caulfield Cup winner Descarado.
2010/2011 Leading Australian Third Season Sires by Earnings
| Stallion | Rnrs | Wnrs | SW(SWins) | Earnings | Best Performer |
| High Chaparral (IRE) | 52 | 31 | 4(9) | $7,095,665 | So You Think - 3,478,500 |
| FASTNET ROCK | 195 | 95 | 4(6) | $5,651,553 | Mosheen - 662,700 |
| Not a Single Doubt | 122 | 60 | 4(6) | $4,507,544 | Karuta Queen - 1,514,000 |
| Al Maher | 140 | 64 | 4(5) | $3,078,196 | Budriguez - 300,900 |
| Shamardal (USA) | 85 | 48 | 5(7) | $2,923,865 | Captain Sonador - 542,000 |
With his oldest progeny now five year-olds, Fastnet Rock has upped the ante since the start of the new season with a quartet of fresh Group I winners in Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Rock 'n' Pop and Planet Rock, the latter two in New Zealand, plus a swag of potential Group I performers in Magic Millions winner Driefontein, Foxwedge, Smart Missile, Jade Marauder, etc.
2011/2012 Leading Australian Sires by Earnings
