SOLID trade in the opening session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale was headed by a colt from the final crop of Scat Daddy who realised 800,000 guineas.

A total of 38 lots sold for 5,222,500 guineas, with an average of 137,434 guineas and a median of 75,000 guineas, and American sires played a prominent role.

An intense bidding battle to secure the star colt ensued between Charlie Gordon-Watson and Jeremy Noseda, who was standing with Amer Abdulaziz and the Phoenix Thoroughbreds team, but it was Gordon-Watson that stuck the winning bid at 800,000 guineas, equalling the third-highest price ever achieved at this fixture.

Consigned by Willie Browne’s Mocklershill Stables, the colt is out of the winning Cape Cross mare Alegendinmyownmind and a brother to three winners.

The sale represented a pinhooking windfall for his owners, who had purchased him for $270,000 as a yearling.

"The horse has been bought for Dr Johnny Hon and his global brand," said Gordon-Watson, who laughed and added: "I didn't think he would cost that much! But this is a beautiful horse and a very fast horse.

"The mare has done well and the pedigree stretches back strongly – second dam Midnight Line was a very good racemare and the family traces to the Coolmore line of Together and Jan Vermeer.

"He is also by a fabulous stallion and he really does tick all the boxes. Let's hope he is a headline horse."

TOP FILLY

It was a daughter of WinStar Farm’s More Than Ready who achieved the second-highest price of the night when sold for 500,000 guineas.

A number of interested parties joined in the bidding for the daughter of Grade 1 Ashland Stakes winner Sis City but it was Anthony Stroud, on behalf of Godolphin, who struck the winning bid against eventual underbidder Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald.

The well-related two-year-old is a half-sister to two winners, including Grade 3 winning colt Second CIty, and represented the biggest sale ring success for consignor Katie Walsh’s Greenhills Farm.

Walsh said: "She is a gorgeous filly. She is strong with a lovely pedigree and has always been straightforward to do - she just has it, just is a natural."

The filly was purchased privately as a yearling in the US by David Egan, of Corduff Stud, who added: "She did not sell and I was just there by the ring – I guess it was just luck!

"She was broken in and went to Katie in January. Everyone involved in producing her has done a fabulous job."

CALIFORNIA

Another Kentucky-based sire, Darley’s Animal Kingdom, was responsible for the third-highest priced lot of the evening. The son of US stakes winner Sirmione was purchased for 420,000 guineas by Alex Elliott, who was standing with California based trainer Simon Callaghan, on behalf of American owner Kaleem Shah.

The Tally-Ho Stud consigned colt is a half-brother to exciting US listed winner and Grade 3-placed three-year-old Paved and was purchased as a yearling for $200,000.

Elliott commented: "He is a beautiful horse, he breezed well, vetted great and came highly recommended. He was a big turn as a yearling but he deserves his money today.

"There has also been a pedigree update as Paved, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and who also have horses with Simon, became the first filly to win the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate and has added to that since with some Grade 3 form."

The two-year-old will go into training with Callaghan, who was on his first buying trip to the Tattersalls Craven Sale.

He said: "Some of my owners wanted to come over, so we made a plan to come. The horse should suit Del Mar later in the season."

HONG KONG

The fourth-highest-priced lot on the opening day of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale came just five lots into proceedings, another colt from the final crop of Scat Daddy. He was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 375,000 guineas.

Consigned by Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud, the son of the Dynaformer mare Oxbow Lake was bought as a yearling for $140,000.

"He is a big strong horse and should be ideally suited to Hong Kong. He is exactly the type of horse we are looking for and we are delighted to have bought him," said representatives from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"He is still a baby – he was an April foal – and has some maturing to do, but he still did a top breeze.

"We have not had any by Scat Daddy in Hong Kong so far, but as someone said Scat Daddy is the Snitzel of the northern hemisphere."

The second day of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale commences at 6:15pm on Wednesday, after racing at Newmarket.

FULL COVERAGE OF THE BREEZE-UP SALE & CHELTENHAM SALE IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND