The symposium, one which is on two days before the commencement of the Inglis Sydney Classic yearling sale, is being organised by Dr Angus McKinnon in association with England based veterinary leaders Professor William ‘Twink' Allen and his colleague at the Paul Mellon Laboratory of Equine Reproduction at Newmarket, Dr Sandra Wilsher.

Angus Mackinnon is one of the most respected leaders in veterinary science and practice in Australia and is a founding owner of the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital at Shepparton in Victoria. Initially a graduate of the Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary Science, he completed postgraduate training and research at the University of Guelph, Canada and Colorado State University, USA.

New Zealand born Professor Allen is also an Australian trained veterinarian, graduating from the University of Sydney in 1964. He subsequently obtained his Ph.D. degree at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Cambridge, England and went to be one of the world's leaders in veterinary science, specialising in reproduction.

Recently he caused a big stir among world breeding leaders when he advocated adoption by the thoroughbred industry of breeding through artificial insemination and embryo transfers. Horses bred by these methods are banned from registration by the world Stud Books.There is a challenge, however, before the Australian courts against the AI ban.

Allen contends artificial insemination, a practice used in other commercial animal breeding, including the Standardbred horse, could improve conception rates and through embryo transfers top mares could have more than one foal a year.

Referring to the impending symposium in Sydney, Professor Allen said: "Our intended audience is as wide as possible a selection of Thoroughbred mare, stallion and studfarm owners and equine stud veterinary surgeons.

"Our intention is to stimulate an informal, and hopefully lively, debate on these contentious topics with the longer term aim of forcing both the International Breeders Conference and the International Breeders meeting to place the subjects on their respective agendas and debate them properly, with adequate scientific, veterinary, legal and management inputs."

Everyone interested is welcome to attend the symposium, one which is being held under the banner of "Veterinary Aspects of Thoroughbred Breeding: Past Successes and Future Prospects." Registration for attendance can by made by contacting Clare Van de Wall on phone (02) 9563 6299, fax (02) 9563 6249 or email horsebreedinglecture@usu.usyd.edu.au by Wednesday January 20.