Michael O'Sullivan had "so many credentials racked up for a guy who was so young", says Jane Mangan as she paid tribute to the jockey who died at the weekend following a fall at a race at Thurles on 6 February.
Tributes have been pouring in for O'Sullivan from across the racing community and far beyond since news of his passing was announced.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, broadcaster and former amateur rider Jane Mangan highlighted O'Sullivan's many achievements and how the 24-year-old from Lombardstown in Cork had grown up in a family steeped in racing heritage.
"They would have grown up on a dairy farm, always had horses, always watching racing and I don't think anything was ever else on Michael's agenda," she said.
"I know he got a UCD degree, I know he was keen to learn the language of French because he wanted not just to confine himself to riding races in Britain and Ireland, but he also wanted to ride in France, which he was doing.
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"So he might have only been 24 – and I think his birthday is this Friday, he would have been 25 - he managed to become champion novice rider in the point-to-point circuit in 2019.
"He turned professional and in his first season as a professional he was crowned champion conditional in 2023.
"He had Grade One successes on Marine Nationale and Good Land and he won the Fred Winter on Jazzy Matty.
"On that day he rode a double at the Cheltenham Festival at such a young age, and even as recently as New Year's Day at Tramore, he won on the Willie Mullins-trained Embassy Gardens – a Gold Cup hope for Willie Mullins. So he was keeping the best of company, but he had that talent."
Mangan also highlighted O'Sullivan's maturity in taking his successes in his stride at such a young age.
"You knew whatever pressure that was going to be put on his shoulders, he was ready for it. There was no worry with Michael. He was just a natural," she said.
Mangan also explained that O'Sullivan's family have made the decision to donate his organs to help others.
"Michael got that fall over ten days ago in Thurles and the racing community had been hoping and everybody in the sporting family had been hoping that we would get better news," she said.
"But when the news came through on Sunday, obviously everybody was devastated, and it still is quite numb. It's hard to comprehend at times and process it.
"But the family have taken the decision to donate Michael's organs so that somebody, some families in their position won't be in their position, and that they can have a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.
"Yesterday in the country, somebody received a big, strong, brave heart and that was because William and Bernie and Michael's family made what must have been an impossible decision to enhance somebody else's situation so they don't have to experience what they're experiencing."
Horse Racing Ireland has announced the following race fixture alterations after O'Sullivan's death.
The Punchestown meeting, which was due to be held this Wednesday is cancelled and will now take place on Friday.
The Punchestown card that was cancelled yesterday switches to Thursday to form a two-day meeting.
The scheduled meeting at Thurles on Thursday will not take place.
