Bathurst Racing Tips 16 Oct 2026: Midnight Affair’s Day?

Overview

Midnight Affair arrives at Bathurst with three wins from six runs in the past 90 days and the stable jockey combination that keeps saluting, which makes the Race 6 staying test the anchor of this Friday card.

N J Olive has brought only seven runners to Bathurst, two won and four hit the frame, and the stable sends four more here today. Deon le Roux rides three of them. Add Jacob Stiff, the apprentice who has placed in more than half his rides at the track, and you have the two threads that run through these Bathurst racing tips from the first race to the last.

Eight races, all on turf rated Good to Soft, starting with a 1400m maiden at 1:25PM and finishing with a 1100m Benchmark 66 sprint at 5:45PM. Two maidens open proceedings, a maiden handicap and two Class 1 races fill the middle, and the back half carries the betting meat. Five runners are already scratched across Races 2, 5 and 8, so a few fields have thinned out. Below you will find the course numbers that actually mean something, a view on every race, and where I would put the money.

Reading the Bathurst card

Limited course form across today’s fields. Only twelve runners have been here before, and none more than twice. Fawlty Affairs has the deepest Bathurst record with a win from two starts. Five others won on their only visit: Missile Defence, Godwits, Alabama Hussy, Hanuman and Trifecta Ruby. Every one of them runs in the last three races, so that list matters later in the afternoon.

The riders tell a clearer story. Jacob Stiff has had 18 rides here for four wins and ten placings, by far the busiest and most productive book on the card. Winona Costin hits the frame in half her Bathurst rides.

On the training side, M D Griffith is the standout on a small sample: five Bathurst runners, two winners, four placed. Matthew Kelley and Olive also strike at better than one in four. At the other end, MS A Smith has sent ten here without a winner, and M R Mulholland has placed five of eleven but is still looking for a first.

Best Bookmakers for Today’s Racing

Bathurst predictions, race by race

Race 1: Gold Circle Mdn Plate, 1:25PM, 1400m

Amahtrom is the one I want in a weak opening maiden. The three year old ran eighth first time out, then jumped to second at the only run since mid July, and that kind of leap from first start to second usually means the penny has dropped. Rob Potter’s runner gets 1400m with one of the lighter weights and Damon Budler, who has a win from five Bathurst rides, so there is a bit going on beyond the form figures.

Chrislyn is the obvious danger with Clayton Gallagher aboard and a second two runs back, but that is the only placing from six starts over the same 90 days, and something keeps finding a way past. Hellfire Henry placed on a sole Bathurst visit for J M Austin, a stable that places with half its runners here, which keeps that one in the frame conversation.

Small win stake on Amahtrom. Nothing here deserves a big swing.

Race 2: Horse Of The Year Scopics Mdn Plate, 2:00PM, 1100m

Who actually wants to win this? Eight go round after the scratchings of Mi Piace and The Fire Inside, and three of them are unraced. That leaves a race built on modest exposed form.

Soviet Storm gets the nod. The form runs ninth, sixth, third, so the line is heading the right way, and G Portelli has two winners from four Bathurst runners. Brodie Loy only needs a repeat of that third to be right there. Diamond Dice ran third at each of the last two and would be the pick on a fitness guarantee, but has not been seen since at least mid July, which makes this a return from a spell over a sharp sprint.

Keep an eye on Apiarist too. C Maher has won with two of four runners here. Watch race for me, or a small saver on Soviet Storm.

Race 3: Newmarket Saddlery Country Boosted Mdn Hcp, 2:35PM, 1200m

Mi Piace is a scratching from Race 2 and lines up here instead, which tells you where Angus Stewart wants to be. The four year old ran fourth, then third, at the only two starts in the window, and now meets a handicap full of horses who have had plenty of chances.

Winona Costin takes the ride from barrier one. Stewart has two winners from ten Bathurst runners, and Costin places with half her mounts here, so this is a competent pairing on a track both know well. The inside draw over 1200m lets Costin hold a spot without burning petrol early.

Orchid Boy is the threat. A third three runs back came before a fifth and an unplaced run, so the profile has gone the wrong way, but C Lever has a win and two placings from six Bathurst rides and draws barrier two. Listen To Win, with Jacob Stiff claiming, ran fourth last time and should be around the placings.

Win bet on Mi Piace, with Orchid Boy and Listen To Win in a small trifecta underneath.

Race 4: Horse Of The Year Marvel Man Hcp (C1), 3:10PM, 1200m

Raguel has placed at every run in the past 90 days: third, third, then a win last time. That is the most reliable recent profile in a Class 1 field that is full of patchy lines, and the three year old gets in near the bottom of the weights for T S Howlett.

Class 1 is a modest grade, and plenty of these have had their chances at it. Written Gold carries top weight on form of nine, then zero. Elite Power and Allusive Intent keep running in the middle. From barrier four, Jack Baker can put Raguel wherever the race needs.

Fawlty Affairs is the danger with the best Bathurst line in the race, a win from two starts here, and won two back before running sixth last time. The Freedman stable has one winner from seven runners here. Bring the form from two runs back and Fawlty Affairs can beat Raguel. Dubai Oak, second last start, is the roughie with the inside gate.

Raguel to win, and the multi leg I trust most on the card. One caution: Raguel is also entered at Taree in Race 8 with the same jockey, so confirm the horse is running here before you bet.

Race 5: Apprentice Jockey Of The Year Jacob Stiff Hcp (C1), 3:45PM, 1200m

Two horses, different profiles. Bushwalker is exposed and honest: third last start, fourth before that, and one placing from two recent runs. Dark Thinker is the stablemate with the better jockey, Jacob Stiff, but managed only a fifth from a sole run in the window.

I side with Bushwalker. Deon le Roux gets in at the bottom of the weights from barrier four, a nice spot to sit and wait. The concern is the stable. MS A Smith has gone ten Bathurst runners without a win, three placings, and has three runners on the card today.

That is where Stiff comes in. His record with Smith reads three wins and seven placings from twelve rides together, so the yard clearly trusts him. If Dark Thinker returns to the second from three runs back, this race is over. Queen Kicker, a winner and second further back, and Marinera at the top of the weights fill out the shortlist.

Each way on Bushwalker, with Dark Thinker as the saver.

Race 6: Away Trainer Of The Year Jarrod Austin (Bm66), 4:25PM, 2000m

Olive and le Roux have teamed up four times for two wins and three placings, the latest win on 11 October. A short history, yes, but a partnership in a hot patch, and Midnight Affair is their best chance of the day.

The six year old reads one, one, one, eight, five, two. Three wins from six starts in 90 days and more than $55,000 in prize money in that time. The middle runs show this horse can be beaten, but the second last start says the dip has passed. Barrier five gives le Roux options. Over 2000m le Roux can slot in behind the speed and wait for the turn.

The class of the opposition helps. Kosuke has top weight off form of nine, seven, zero. Coto de Caza has placed once in four runs in the window. Lady Tino and Prefer Diamonds have not won lately. Jessandi ran second last time but sits wide in barrier ten.

Godwits is the one I respect. A winner on the only Bathurst start, with five placings from seven runs since July, including a second last time. Todd Smith has three placings from four runners here. This is the honest type who stays in the finish, and barrier one should deliver the run of the race. If Midnight Affair has another flat day, Godwits wins.

Midnight Affair is the best bet on the card. Back Midnight Affair to win, and take a small exacta with Godwits underneath.

Race 7: Senior Jockey Of The Year Winona Costin Country Boosted (Bm58), 5:05PM, 1300m

Bobby’s Secret looks the most reliable runner in the race. The eight year old placed at both runs since July, third and then second, and gets in on the minimum weight for MS M Harrison with Jess Del Frari riding. Old horses with that kind of placing rate rarely fall in a hole in a Benchmark 58.

The value lies with Flying Maurice, who won first time out at the only start so far, and Matthew Kelley has won with two of six runners at Bathurst. A light weight, barrier seven and Emma Ly riding complete a profile the bookies will struggle to assess.

Trifecta Ruby and Alabama Hussy both won on their only Bathurst start, and that counts for something. Trifecta Ruby has a win, a fourth and a fifth from three runs in the window. Alabama Hussy, the third of le Roux’s rides for Olive, has one win from four in the same period but jumps wide in barrier nine. Street Swagger has Stiff aboard and ran third last start.

Each way on Bobby’s Secret, and a small win bet on Flying Maurice.

Race 8: Local Trainer Of The Year Dean Mirfin (Bm66), 5:45PM, 1100m

Hanuman closes the card with the strongest win claims of the late sprinters. The five year old won first time at this track, has won two of three runs in the past 90 days, and both of those wins came in the last two starts. M D Griffith places four of every five runners he brings here, and Costin rides from barrier three.

The sprint has plenty of depth. Line Of Law won last time and placed in both runs in the window, but barrier ten means work to find a position. Abstruse may be the more dangerous horse: two wins and four placings from five recent runs, second last start, and barrier two. Missile Defence won on a sole Bathurst visit but has not raced in 90 days, and Glowing Rapids sits widest of all in barrier twelve.

Win on Hanuman, with Abstruse as the saver.

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FAQ

What time does racing start at Bathurst today?

Race 1, the Gold Circle Mdn Plate over 1400m, jumps at 1:25PM. The final race, a 1100m Benchmark 66 sprint, is at 5:45PM, and the track is rated Good to Soft.

Who are the top jockeys and trainers at Bathurst?

Jacob Stiff leads the jockeys among today’s riders with four wins and ten placings from 18 rides at the track. Winona Costin has two wins and six placings from 12. Among trainers, M D Griffith has two winners and four placegetters from five runners, and N J Olive has two winners from seven with four placings.

What are the best bets at Bathurst today?

Midnight Affair in Race 6 is the NAP after three wins from six runs since mid July. Raguel in Race 4 is the banker after placing in all three recent starts, and Hanuman in Race 8 has won the last two starts.

Where can I find the best Bathurst odds?

Markets had not opened when this was written. Compare prices with the bookmakers listed above once they go up, especially in Race 7, where Flying Maurice has only had one start and the market will have to guess.