Wellington Cup Preview: Aimpoint's Gear Change for Title Defence
Form analyst Adam Sherry delivers his comprehensive race-by-race analysis and expert selections for the Wellington race meeting on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The feature event sees defending champion Aimpoint attempting to secure consecutive Wellington Cup victories, with trainer Mack Griffith implementing a significant gear change to enhance the gelding's prospects.
Defending Champion Faces Tough Challenge
Six-year-old gelding Aimpoint confronts a formidable task in his pursuit of a second Wellington Cup triumph. Trainer Mack Griffith has decided to equip the defending champion with blinkers for the first time, aiming to sharpen the horse's focus during the crucial 1700-meter contest.
"The way he's holding his form without doing anything spectacular," Griffith remarked. "I have put the blinkers on him for the first time which might just sharpen him up."
Despite not winning since last year's Wellington Cup, Aimpoint has maintained respectable form. His recent performances include a fourth-place finish behind General Soho at Newcastle carrying 59.5 kilograms and a fifth-place result to Sarrismo in a Benchmark 78 race at Doomben two weeks ago under 57 kilograms.
Strategic Preparation and Weight Advantage
Griffith has followed a similar preparation pattern to last year's successful campaign, where Aimpoint recorded seventh and second-place finishes in two Eagle Farm runs before claiming the Cup. The gelding drops to 54 kilograms for this year's edition, a weight he hasn't carried since his narrow second to Louie's Legacy in the Forbes Cup last August.
"It was one of the things we were banking on, getting in with a light weight and I have saved the blinkers for this race just to add a bit of shock factor to him and get him a bit more focused," Griffith explained.
Aimpoint opened at $16 with TAB Fixed Odds, positioned behind the Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist at $3 and Zouatica at $6 in early markets.
Griffith's Other Promising Contenders
Earlier in the day, Griffith presents two lightly-raced horses with strong chances. Three-year-old filly Chappolicious resumes in the Class 1 Handicap (1100m) with apprentice Braith Nock aboard from barrier two. She demonstrated excellent form during her first campaign, including:
- A debut third to Jagerschnitzel at Dubbo
- A second to Shenandoah River at Scone
- A front-running victory over 100 meters at Wellington
"The track suits her style, she's drawn a soft gate and has no weight. She should be very hard to run down," Griffith said of Chappolicious.
Former Victorian gelding Hanuman represents Griffith's other promising runner in the Maiden Plate (1000m). The four-year-old finished fifth at his New South Wales debut at Dubbo but had placed in all four Victorian starts prior to heading north.
"He just got tired the last 100 metres so with that run under his belt, he should be primed for this," Griffith noted. "His had run well in Victoria and this is only a small field. He's got plenty of gate speed and will put himself there."
Adam Sherry's Expert Selections
BEST BET
Race 4 No. 7: CHAPPOLICIOUS
Very good last campaign including an all-the-way win here. Will take catching.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 6: HAYEK
All-the-way win over 900m first-up last preparation. Can do so again despite the wide gate.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 2: ZOUATICA
Led and won the Bega Cup and led when third in the Bairnsdale Cup. Good chance.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 6, 9, 11
Race 6: 1, 2, 9
Race 7: 1, 7, 9
Race 8: 1, 3, 4
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Leading apprentice Braith Nock has a quality book of rides and will be popular in the Jockey Challenge.
Race-by-Race Analysis
RACE 1: Western Truck Group Country Boosted 3yo & Up Maiden Plate 1000m
HANUMAN (1) was first-up without a trial when overracing and peaking late for fifth at Dubbo as odds-on favourite. Fitter now with cross-over nose band applied. HEAD KAHUNA (5) returns from spells with nice trial form.
RACE 2: Lss Locksmith & Security Solutions Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap 1700m
JASPER'S WAY (3) ran handy thirds at Tamworth and Muswellbrook before contesting Country Championships. Back to suitable grade. GREEN RUN (1) closed nicely to win at Dubbo before sixth last weekend.
RACE 3: Latitude Liquor Super Maiden Showcase Plate 1400m
HEROES'N'VILLAINS (7) caught wide without cover in both starts, beaten under three lengths each time. Drawn gate 3 this attempt. CELEMAN ZOR (5) worked home nicely in Warwick Farm trial.
RACE 4: Cleanpeak Energy Country Magic Class 1 Showcase Handicap 1100m
CHAPPOLICIOUS (7) resumes off impressive first campaign including win over this track/trip. Set fast pace and faded last start before spell. Nice trial win. RACE TO ARMS (1) also resumes off trial placing.
RACE 5: K.F.C Colonel's Comet Benchmark 66 Showcase Handicap 900m
HAYEK (6) won first-up last campaign over 900m at Newcastle. Won recent Warwick Farm trial by 10 lengths. ECHELON (9) faded when resuming but has placed since.
RACE 6: Peter Milling & Company 'Peter Milling Memorial' Big Dance Eligibility Wellington Showcase Cup 1700m
ZOUATICA (2) won Bega Cup before fourth in National Sprint and third in Bairnsdale Cup. Will go forward. PERFUMIST (1) disappointed first-up but better second-up. AIMPOINT (9) chases back-to-back Cups with weight drop and blinkers.
RACE 7: Wellington Soldiers Memorial & Golf Club Wellington Boot Showcase 1100m
I'M A BEAUT (9) trialled nicely before impressive four-length win in Boot Prelude at Dubbo. Drawn for ideal run. HELLENIC BELLE (7) bounced back with half-length win in Starmaker after overracing on debut.
RACE 8: Wellington Soldiers Memorial & Golf Club Wellington Town Plate Showcase Open Handicap 1100m
HELLCIBELLE (3) led all-the-way to win Inverell Shorts before spell. Has win and three placings from four first-up runs. PRIDE TO FOLLOW (4) drops back in trip which suits.
