Episode 346: Jean Van Overmeire

Nobody was happier than Jean Van Overmeire when the NSW adult population hit the 80% double vaccinated mark last October. It meant the hard working jockey was able to get out of Sydney and ride wherever he wanted. Jean talks of a rapid increase in his workload. He talks of his busy trackwork schedule at Randwick and other city tracks. The expat South African looks back on the shock offer he received to ride in last year’s TAB Everest. He reviews his two rides in the Golden Slipper. Jean looks back on childhood days in South Africa and his earliest association with horses. The respected jockey remembers his move to England with his family and an apprenticeship with trainer Roger Varian. Jean has vivid memories of his first winning ride in pouring rain at Wolverhampton. He explains that Mike De Kock suggested he should go to Dubai and do nothing but ride trackwork with some elite jockeys. Jean looks back on a Hong Kong assignment entrusted to him by training wizard Mike de Kock. He tells the story of his arrival in Australia and the lucky break he got with Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker,. Van Overmeire looks back on the struggle he had to get the compulsory number of trial rides and his early race rides. His initial win is one of his fondest memories. Jean looks back on early city winners including a Randwick treble for three different trainers. He says his desperation to succeed resulted in many suspensions. The jockey looks back on a horror run he had with injury in 2018 and 2019. Two of his accidents were not related to race falls. Jean looks back on a country double that reignited his career following a long absence. He acknowledges a few special horses who’ve helped him along the way. It’s a nice yarn with a likeable young Sydney jockey.