5 days ago
NSW jockey Jean Van Overmeire closing in on personal best season as he prepares for arrival of third child
While some jockeys are winding down as the racing season draws to a close, it's the opposite for the prolific and hardworking Jean Van Overmeire.
The 30-year-old is just four wins away from eclipsing his best ever season haul of 104 winners and he's also weeks away from a new addition to his family.
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'My wife Jordan is due to have another baby in a few weeks,' Van Overmeire said.
'We've got Savannah who's eight and Hugo's three.
'We don't know the sex of this one so it's all very exciting in the Van Overmeire residence at the moment.
'Life couldn't be better.'
On Saturday at Rosehill Gardens, Van Overmeire has a solid book of six rides.
The popular jockey has spent the vast majority of the season riding on the provincial and country circuits and his 101 winners has him sitting in fourth place in the NSW jockeys' premiership behind Aaron Bullock (114), Braith Nock (107) and Ash Morgan (102).
'The season's going really well, it's been fantastic,' he said.
'I've probably been slipping under the radar, but things have gone really well this season.
'Being a jockey is very much a success-based job.
'Everything we do flows off riding winners.
'When you're riding winners your confidence builds, you get better opportunities in races, you make better decisions in races and with all that you get better outcomes.'
One of those opportunities came a fortnight back at Rosehill Gardens when Van Overmeire did something a handful of the world's best jockeys, like James McDonald, Joao Moreira, Kerrin McEvoy, Craig Williams and Jason Collett, found beyond them – winning aboard Misterkipchoge.
'It's funny, I rode against the horse in the start prior and he powered past me at a rate of knots, really catching my attention, and I remember thinking 'that horse is going to be winning next start',' Van Overmeire said.
'Then luck would have it that I'm riding the horse in his next run.
'I remember being behind the barriers and I could feel him underneath me and I just thought if I can put this horse into a good spot, his last run and the feel he's given me, 'he can't get beat'.
'He flew out of the barriers and straight away we were on the front foot and the rest is history.
'It was just one of those situations where everything fell into place. Good fortune or good management, people will make up their own mind.
'When reflecting it's good to think back and know my Judgement was on point.'
That was Van Overmeire's only win for Misterkipchoge's trainer Chris Waller from 17 opportunities in the last five racing seasons and Sydney's premier trainer has given the jockey another chance to make it two wins in a row this Saturday.
Van Overmeire will again partner Misterkipchoge in the Toyota Forklifts 3&4YO Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).
Another drought broken!
Misterkipchoge wins his second race, 513 days after his first!
Chris Waller take a bow 🙇🙇 @cwallerracing @jeanvovermeire
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 28, 2025
'I'm very grateful and happy that Chris is giving me another opportunity on the horse,' Van Overmeire said.
'It looks a bit trickier from the wider barrier (9) this time but that's something I'll discuss with Chris on Saturday.
'One thing I do know is the horse is racing really well and that win last start won't have hurt his confidence.'
Misterkipchoge ($6) is the pick of Van Overmeire's Rosehill Gardens engagement which he says; 'Is good book of rides but a bad set of barriers brings us back to the pack.'
Based on prices, Vella's Best at $14 is Van Overmeire's next best ride in the Petaluma 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).
'I thought he ran really well behind King's Secret last start,' he said.
'He was forced to do plenty of work early and I thought he stuck to the task well in the straight.
'This time he's drawn more favourably and he will probably strip fitter again on Saturday being his third run back after a 12 month break.'
