Still Believing victory helps Bastyan get career back on track after a break

The smile on conditional rider Mitchell Bastyan’s face lit up a decidedly grey winter’s day as he partnered his first winner for almost eight months after Still Believing landed the 3m1f mares’ handicap chase.

Bastyan, 20, appeared to have a bright future a year ago with 28 victories in the saddle, but weight problems and a lack of belief resulted in him taking time out to gather his thoughts and consider his future.

However the youngster has put those troubles behind him and showed plenty of confidence aboard the ten-year-old mare, trained by his boss Evan Williams, as the pair were never headed before passing the post with nine lengths to spare over Sheneededtherun.