It’s been a July to remember for South African Jean Van Overmeire (JVO), with the in-form jockey booting home 13 victories.
With 72 wins to his name in season 2025/26, it’s been his best month to date, mixing his form between metropolitan, provincial and country meetings.
JVO has guided home wins at Canterbury, Hawkesbury, Wyong, Newcastle, Grafton, Moruya, Muswellbrook, and most recently, a double at Taree on Tuesday.
It was an early winning double at Taree’s Manning Valley Race Club for the red-hot jockey, and he kicked things off when guiding the Neil Godbolt-trained Smoky Saint to a good win in the 2018m Class One/Maiden Plate.
Commencing from the widest gate (8), JVO took the 3YO D’Argento gelding on a three-wide run to find the front.
The Port Macquarie galloper gave a cheeky kick on the home turn, and from there, broke his rivals’ hearts to hold on for a gutsy win from the fast-finishing odds-on favourite Autafinna (Mikayla Weir, $1.95) from the Patrick Cleave yard.
Two races later, Van Overmeire rode for Samantha McGuren, winning on Dark Stratum ($5) in the 1412m Class Three Handicap.
It was another good front-running ride, with JVO rating the 4YO Harry Angel gelding nicely, as the pair this time broke punters’ hearts, winning by a neck from the fast-finishing Tact (Aaron Bullock, $2.60) from the Jason Deamer stable.
Van Overmeire will look to continue a strong month and season, with a full book of rides at Canberra today before targeting meetings at Randwick on Saturday, Muswellbrook on Sunday, and Bathurst on Tuesday.
