South African born jockey Jean Van Overmeire had a day out at the Newcastle race meeting on Saturday, steering home three winners and a second. Van Overmeire recently returned from a six-month stint in Dubai where he rode 19 winners.
The heavily backed Dreamdeel, trained at Wyong by Allan Kehoe is a catch me if you can stayer and Van Overmeire produced a top front running ride to win the Konami Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1850m). The son of Dundeel has been in career best form, and from his past five starts he has two wins and three placings. On Saturday, Dreamdeel, which had led from the outset was pushed along from the 600m and he just kept finding. On the line the winner had 0.28 of a length to spare from Mydeel and Kingstar Bullet. Dreamdeel was backed from $3 into $2.30.
Van Overmeire adopted different tactics on the odds-on favourite Party Doll ($1.85), narrow winner of the Bidfood Newcastle Maiden Handicap (900m). In her previous two starts the filly has displayed brilliant speed, however on Saturday Van Overmeire elected to take hold from the start and she settled in fourth place three wide. The jockey held her up until the 300m where she sprinted clear. Party Doll started to shorten stride near home but held on to win by a nose.
Van Overmeire’s third and most impressive winner was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Union Army in the final event, the Tooheys New CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). The winner is a talent and in a fast run race he was well back, ten lengths from the leader mid race. Van Overmeire eased the heavily backed favourite to the outside of the field and he wore them down comfortably.
The comments of the days leading jockey on his treble are as follows:
“Dreamdeel is tough and after looking at his replays I decided to rev him up before the turn. He is tough and will win again. Originally, we planned to ride Party Doll off the speed but after scratching’s we were not sure, but it worked out well. At this stage 900m is probably her limit. Union Army is very promising, and it was a huge win. The pace suited us, and Gerald told me to keep him away from other horses and that is why I allowed him to drift wide on the turn” Van Overmeire said.
Paul Perry and Nathan Doyle were the two Newcastle trainers to win races. Perry who trained Cruel Summer to win at Rosehill earlier in the day produced Tamar to win the Vital Security Group Midway Maiden Handicap (1400m). Doyle’s Dame Cartland stormed home from the back to win the Ausure Hospitality – Vale Dean Holland F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).