The Coalman wins for builder, Craig McConchie 

By Duane Ranger 

The last foal that Craig McConchie bred out of the Live Or Die six-win mare, Jungle Jane, kicked another goal at Addington Raceway on Thursday, 13th July. 

The Coalman, who was named after McConchie’s partner Jane’s father, Stu Yellowlees, justified favouritism in race four – the Perfect Sting At Macca Lodge Handicap for the R35-50 pacers. He and driver Samantha Ottley proved way too strong winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths – with a 2:07.6 mile-rate. 

The 4-year-old Pet Rock gelding is trained by Mark Jones at Burnham. He is owned by his breeder, McConchie.

The Coalman with Sam Ottley

“I named him after Stu, who ran the family business in Kaiapoi for decades. He was a coalman, and the name was just a tribute to him really. The one before him was named The Cobbler (2017 Art Major gelding) I named him after Dad who was a shoe repairer said Kaiapoi-based McConchie. 

He said he sold The Cobbler, who has won four races and is now up north with Adrienne Matthews at Glenbrook. 

The Coalman has now equaled his older half-brother, with four wins. He’s also placed eight times ($46,056) since he started his career with a win, also at Addington on April 29, 2022. 

The North Canterbury builder, who has his own North Canterbury-based business, said The Coalman was the last of the nine foals he bred from Jungle Jane. 

“I gave the mare away after The Coalman was born in 2018. She’s 21 now. I see that she has since left a 2020 Always B Miki colt named Willy Away (for R.D. Nevill),” McConchie said. 

He said he originally got into The Coalman’s breed through clients of Erin Crawford 

“I had horses with Erin and one of his clients had a mare they didn’t want so I decided to breed from her. 

The unraced 1995 brown (W R H – Theme – Vance Hanover) mare was Vance’s Theme. I put her to Live Or Die in 2001, and Jungle Jane was the result. 

“She won six races ($58,371) and recorded a 1:57.3 mile. Tim Butt trained her for me, and I always thought she might make a nice broodmare,” McConchie said. 

But sadly, the same could not be said for Jungle Jane’s dam, Vance’s Theme. 

After missing to Day In The Life (2003), Spirit Of Zeus (2003), Julius Caesar (2005), and then Live Or Die (2006), Vance’s Theme was not persevered with as a broodmare. 

“I often wonder what might have been had she had more foals, but her only foal certainly made up for it. I think Jungle Jane’s progeny has now won more than 60 races both Down Under and in America,” McConchie said. 

Jungle Jane’s first foal, 2008 P Forty Seven mare, Jungle Reign, was simply no good, but the second foal, the 2009 Bettor’s Delight mare, Jungle Genie, excelled both as a racehorse, and as a dam, after leaving New Zealand as a five-start maiden in May 2013. 

She went on to win 23 races and $284,354 in Australia & United States where she recorded a 1:52.6 mile. 

 That mare has since left three foals in the United States, including first foal, the three-year-old So Surreal filly, Miss Dotte Mae, who has won nine of her 37 starts ($130,463) and notched up a 1:52.4 mile,” McConchie said. 

Jungle Jane’s third foal, the 2010 Mach Three mare, Jungle Jewel (1:55.8) won a race here before emulating her big sister and winning 16 races in Australia ($238,877), including a second placing in the Group One $125,000 Mares Classic at Gloucester Park. Her first foal is Tiger By The Tail who has won 5 races and $34,968 

“Greg and Sky Bond trained both of them. They have always done a good job with the horses I’ve sent there, and I will continue to have a close association with them,” McConchie said. 

He said the next foal, the 2011 Sands A Flyin mare, Flyin Jane, didn’t make the cut, while foal five, the 2013 Changeover mare, Jungle Gem (1:58.2) won seven races in New Zealand. 

“Jungle Gem did a good job. I leased her to Brent Borcoskie and she’s a hack now. Her full brother is Leaping Leo (next foal, 2014) 

McConchie said. 

“I sent him to Aussie with Tim and then he won his first start at Penrith (March 1, 2018). He is still racing in Queensland,” McConchie said. 

Craig McConchie & Sagano

He said the sixth foal, the Christian Cullen mare, Sagano, won five races for Johnny Cox here before I sent her to Greg and Skye in January 2021, where she won two. 

“She’s with Tim Butt in Queensland, and I still have a share in her. She is in foal to Betting Line, which is quite exciting, because we have now got the Christian Cullen Bettor’s Delight cross in the breed. 

“I have worked Saturday mornings in several stables over the years and always maintained a close association with Erin Crawford, Tim Butt, the Bonds, and Mark Jones” said McConchie. 

“After Sagano, I sold The Cobbler, and The Coalman came next,” said McConachie, a builder by trade and a breeder by passion.