Derryconnor Stud launches new website to showcase its breeze-up lots

Katie McGivern's successful County Wexford-based breeze-up consignment business Derryconnor Stud has launched a new website to showcase its draft for this year's sales.

The move comes as many pinhookers and vendors find ways to promote their stock with auctions postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions making it less easy for prospective buyers to inspect lots on farms before sales.

Visit the Derryconnor Stud website

Derryconnor Stud is best known for having sold Nell Gwyn Stakes winner and 1,000 Guineas third Daban, while it was also involved in the pinhook of Jersey Stakes scorer and Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Le Brivido.

The operation's other graduates include the high-class Rock Steady, One Minute, Rockin Roy and Rare Groove.

McGivern offers 11 two-year-olds across the various sales this year, which can be seen at her base in County Wexford by prior appointment. They include colts by No Nay Never, Australia, Twilight Son, Dragon Pulse and Mehmas as well as fillies by Invincible Spirit, Acclamation, Fast Company, Australia and Kodiac.

“As we find ourselves in these testing and changing times, we feel that we need to change our approach and be more proactive in promoting our stock to potential clients," said McGivern.

"We have a lovely selection of two-year-olds that are ready to rock when racing commences, so have compiled photos and videos of the horses that we have available for sale.

"These have been posted to our website, along with catalogue pages and we welcome enquiries prior to their intended sales dates.

"As racing is due to return in France and Germany over the coming week, we hope that the situation improves and that Ireland and the UK will not be too far behind. Therefore, we want to make sure that our precocious juveniles are available to the wider market."

Read more Life in Lockdown Q&As with industry figures

Richard Kent: 'Stud fees and sales house charges will have to come down'

Philippa Mains: 'The industry is a family and we help each other out'

Claire Goodwillie: 'People have realised if you're not online you're invisible'

Tina Rau: 'I'm enjoying post-dinner quarantinis with friends over video call'

Daniel Creighton: 'The market will recover – the only question is when'

Ed Player: 'We're happy to move with the times and embrace online trading'

Patrick Sells: 'Chasemore Farm is effectively operating in a bubble'

Chad Schumer: 'Racing in the US being cancelled is the biggest frustration'

Tom Blain: 'Trade will be down but all we can do is roll with the punches'

Ted Voute: 'We'll need to strengthen the way we showcase young stock'

Simon Kerins: 'We'll embrace any format that will help get horses sold'

Barry Lynch: 'The industry has often bounced back as quickly as it dipped'

Tim Lane: 'Working with horses does you the world of good in these times'

Jerry Horan: 'My sister butchered my haircut. I think it was payback'

Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham: 'Social distancing isn't hard - just lonely!'

Henry Beeby: 'Nick Nugent and I have entered a beard growing competition'

Charles O'Neill: 'ITM will be ready to go when the markets open up again'

Freddy Powell: 'We're improving our online sale platform in case it's needed'

Bumble Mitchell: 'Online sales could be tricky for outlying studs like mine'

David Stack: 'I had to give a garda a lesson about the birds and the bees'

Colm Sharkey: 'I've been torturing myself trying to sort out my golf swing'

Rachael Gowland: 'I didn't realise how much I loved racing until I couldn't go'

Sam Hoskins: 'I've been listening to endless Cold War podcasts on my tractor'

Niamh Spiller: 'Video calls are very important to keep everyone motivated'

Jamie Lloyd: 'Staff have had all their own gear labelled, even wheelbarrows'

Micheál Orlandi: 'The stallions are flying and that gives me great hope'

Richard Venn: 'The French are in a good position to get back racing sooner'

Tim Kent: 'It's difficult to plan when we don't know when racing will resume'

Russell Ferris: 'Weatherbys had contingency plans that we activated at once'

Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon: 'Inglis Easter has kept us busy since January'

Peter Hockenhull: 'The social side of meeting and chatting to breeders is gone'

Polly Bonnor: 'We've fulfilled every feed order, including all our exports'

Richard Lancaster: 'We're fortunate that some Shadwell staff live on site'