A COLT by Scat Daddy consigned by Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud in Mullingar topped Wednesday's session at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale when bought for 675,000gns by David Redvers Bloodstock on behalf of Sheikh Fahad al-Thani.

It is the best price given for a horse at the Craven Sale since 2015, and the fifth top price ever.

The whole room quietened down as the colt, half-brother to the Round Tower Stakes winner Great White Eagle and to the MIll Reef Stakes third Quarrel, and widely expected to be the sale topper, entered the ring.

Bids came from all around the sales ring, with Nicholas de Watrigant, Chris Richardson, Justin Casse, Stephen Hillen and Richard Knight all involved. In the end it was Knight who had to play the unfortunate role of underbidder.

Redvers, with Sheikh Fahad, was delighted with his acquisition.

"When people buy the sale topper, they always come out with the cliches that they thought it was the best horse in the sale, and that it ticked all the boxes," he said.

"This horse had some minor issues as a yearling [he was not sold for $65,000], but he has proved that he can gallop. He has a great mind and this sale has been tremendously successful for us.

"We are delighted, and in fact are quite surprised to have managed to buy him. He is exactly the sort of horse we are looking for. He will be trained in Newmarket."

The purchase proved a useful distraction for Sheikh Fahad - he is riding at Cheltenham on Thursday and is in strict diet mode.

In fact, Redvers reported that the Sheikh was heading straight from Tattersalls to the sweat box to shift the few last pounds ahead of Thursday's ride.

It is the second-best price achieved at the Craven Sale by Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud - his top price being 800,000gns given in 2014 for a colt by High Chaparral.

"I bought this horse privately from my good friend Tom Evans from Trackside Farm in Kentucky," reported McCartan, who a week ago received £200,000 at Doncaster for a More Than Ready colt he had bought for only $5,000.

The two-day sale saw an average price of more than 140,000gns and the median exceeded the 100,000gns mark for the first time. There was also an unprecedented number of six-figure transactions.

Tuesday's session was topped by a colt from Intello's first crop which was sold by Brendan Holland's Grove Stud to Godolphin's John Ferguson for 575,000gns.

The second highest price paid on Wednesday was 400,000gns for the Siyouni colt consigned from Church Farm & Horse Park Stud. The sale was a massive pinhooking triumph after being purchased for €62,000 as a yearling and will go into training with Kevin Ryan.

"We loved him when we saw him, he is a lovely big sort," said John Cullinan of Horse Park Stud. "We are a big fan of the sire and have had some luck with him - they are obviously getting more difficult to get hold of now! Alban Chevalier du Fau of The Channel Consignment highly recommended this horse.

"He did a great breeze this week and is a gorgeous sound horse. He started with me and then went to Roger [Marley's] in January - and survived both of us!"

Hillen was delighted with his purchase. "It is more than we thought we'd have to pay, but the market is savage and if you want horses you have to get involved," he reported.

"I saw him at Roger's a month ago and was impressed then. We've had some luck with horses we have bought from them - we bought Brando from them and he runs in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes tomorrow.

"All the rumours ahead of this sale were correct and it has proved to be strong with lots of new people involved. I enjoy buying at the breeze up sales - the horses are well produced by the consignors and the stats are superb. Compared to buying yearlings it is so helpful to see how the horses gallop.

"I like to think that the background I have as an assistant trainer is useful - I loved the way this horse galloped even though his time was not one of the very top few."

Bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe was very active throughout the two day sale and purchased the first of three lots when she went to 350,000gns to secure the Youmzain colt consigned by Tony and Roger O’Callaghan’s Tally Ho Stud.

The colt represented another stunning pinhooking triumph, having been purchased as a foal for €62,000.

"He's for Luxembourg-based Phoenix Thoroughbreds and will be trained by Jeremy Noseda," said Radcliffe, before adding of her husband: "I think there will be divorce in the camp if this horse did not go to Jeremy!

"This horse is a lovely well-balanced horse, a cracking two-year-old and hopefully one for the Chesham!"

READ LEO POWELL'S FULL CRAVEN SALE REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND