Fairchild is my favorite 'small tree' that a lot of people grow in pots.

Delicious and very productive, good fungus resistance.

Last year I started experimenting/trying to grow mangoes in pots in my zone.
So far I have Manila, Julie, Young (aka Tebow), Graham, Glenn, Valencia Pride, Lancetilla, Pickering, Carrie and Southern Blush. They're all still alive and so far Manila seem to show the best growth but its also my first tree, so it may simply have a head start compared to my other trees.
From my current observations for the zone I'm in, vigorous mango trees seem to grow as slow as a dwarf variety. This is because the evenings here are rather cool.
My newbie recommendation would be to choose the mango variety you personally like (and possibly eaten) and go with that.
I will also suggest looking through the forums here on soilless potting mediums and other forum user's experiences with pruning. The bonsai group also has good information.
Good luck.

MGB - My very young pickering, I've been told, is PRIME for hanging out in a pot - grows very slow and compact - I think as true a dwarf as u can get, though mine is hunkered down in the ground....but never tasted it so can't comment on flavour...but the blogs and descriptions all say it's pretty yum-yum

on the other hand my Manila is a Gang Banger - at least 2-3 feet of growth per year - Be careful controlling that Great Dane!

mangoWildDog

Thank you all. Mangodog- I looked at pickering on PI's website, and it is definitely a keeper. as for Mallika, it was also in my top 3 already.

invar69- what area of z9 do you live in? I just want to know to compare conditions for growing.
Thanks, Man-Go

Disregard the last post- it is from one of my other messages.....?