Jane Mangan: 'Broadcasting Was Never On My Mind
Jane Mangan is the next up in the Starfield Stud-sponsored Conversations series. She talks about her family's approach to breeding and her time working in Ballydoyle and at Primus.
Brian Sheerin and Jane Mangan's family's Conna Stud benefited from the strong trade at the sales this year. Conana Stud sold a Churchill filly for €230,000 at Orby Sale in September. Jane has two Flat mares and a yearling bought by Amanda Skiffington for Fiona Carmichael.
Jane Mangan's father Jimmy is a well-respected trainer and his mother Mary is an integral part of the breeding operation. Bryan foals all the mares with Dad, Mam takes over when the foal are born and the mating conversations are usually debated over supper. They try to keep their broodmare band to 20 or less and are surrounded by some of Europe's best stud farms.
Jane Mangan is a trainer. She believes that breeders are producing horses to satisfy their thirst. There are 28 races at Cheltenham each year with around 26 different successful stallions.
The Flat game is guilty of not prioritising the sharp right-handed sales ring. There are 35 Group 1 races at ten to twelve furlongs in Europe compared to 13 races of 5 to 6 furs. Japanese horses are regularly putting us in our place in these big middle-distance races.
Monty's Pass won the Grand National in 2003. Monty was a winning lotto ticket who lived in Ireland for 25 years. He died recently at the age of 29. The National Hunt game in the country has become too centralised around a few trainers. It will take a lot of new investors to keep the trainers in business. Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell and John McConnell have shown that it's possible to create a new breed of trainers from scratch.
Jane Mangan is a former jockey who enjoyed success as an amateur. She decided to pursue a career in racing outside of the saddle. She enjoyed it immensely and learned more on the track than in lecture halls.
Jane Mangan is passionate about breeding horses. She used to read Tattersalls November Foal Catalogue as a child. When she was 14 she got her first job away from home with David Wachman. She worked with horses in Ballydoyle and she can remember her very first lot being a Kingmambo filly out of Alexandrova (Ire).
Jane Mangan worked for Aidan O'Brien for 10 years. She describes the empowering environment in which to work. Every horse is treated equally regardless of ability. Everyone's work must matter. The environment created from the top down is what separates the best from others. Sir Alex Ferguson is a leader who can optimise the ability of his team.
Jane Mangan worked for Primus for five years after college. She enjoyed her time there and made some life-long friends. Jane wanted to work and learn about international breeding so she went to Fethard.
Jane Mangan grew up watching Tracy Piggott and Clare Balding but broadcasting was never on her mind. Tracy interviewed Jane at the races. Jane knew her riding days were numbered and her thoughts were open to all possibilities.
Jane Mangan is a broadcaster of RTE Racing, Racing TV and The Nick Luck Podcast. She wouldn't have considered broadcasting five years ago. She believes broadcasting on sport is an opportunity to grow interest levels and develop the next generation of fans.
Jane Mangan's parents have been the biggest influence on her broadcasting career. Dad was her biggest fan and toughest critic when she was riding. Mam has always embraced change and could see the bigger picture.
Jane Mangan is working with The Thoroughbred Corporation. She was watching racing as a child and her earliest memories are in graphics and colours. After almost 20 years, they returned to the track in May. Jane feels lucky to be working there with the team she was in awe of as an child.
Jane Mangan is looking forward to seeing Vadeni campaigned this season. Vadani was the best of his generation last season and he could be in a King George.
The return of Chaldean, Little Big Bear and Tahiyra would get the juices flowing.
