Wellington Cup Preview: Aimpoint's Gear Change for Title Defence
Form analyst Adam Sherry has delivered his expert best bets and comprehensive race-by-race analysis for the Wellington race meeting on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The spotlight shines on the Wellington Cup, where defending champion Aimpoint faces a formidable challenge in his bid for a second victory, with trainer Mack Griffith implementing a crucial gear change to boost the gelding's chances.
Aimpoint's Blinkers On for Cup Defence
Defending champion Aimpoint confronts a difficult assignment as he seeks to claim a second Wellington Cup, but trainer Mack Griffith is making a significant gear alteration in an effort to help the six-year-old upset his rivals. Griffith is fitting blinkers on Aimpoint for the first time, aiming to sharpen the gelding's focus and performance.
"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." Aimpoint has not won since last year's Wellington Cup but has been performing creditably, including a fourth behind General Soho with 59.5kg at Newcastle and a fifth to Sarrismo under 57kg in a Benchmark 78 at Doomben two weeks ago.
Griffith employed a similar lead-in strategy last year when the son of Epaulette was seventh and second in two runs at Eagle Farm before returning to win the Cup. "He hasn’t been getting lapped at all. It’s just when he won last year, the rating he got has made it very hard for him to be placed in the right races," he explained. "Sydney this time of year is impossible to find a suitable race. There are horses from those bigger stables running in benchmark one week and a Group races the next. It’s too hard down there. So we have gone to Queensland again to find a suitable race for him and he ran okay."
Aimpoint drops to 54kg in the Wellington Cup over 1700 metres, a weight he has not carried since his close 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 added. Aimpoint opened at $16 with TAB Fixed Odds, behind the Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist at $3 and Zouatica at $6.
Griffith's Other Strong Chances
Griffith also has two promising chances earlier in the day with lightly-raced horses. Chappolicious resumes in the Class 1 Handicap over 1100 metres with Braith Nock aboard from barrier 2. The three-year-old was impressive in her first campaign, with a debut third to Jagerschnitzel at Dubbo and a second to Shenandoah River at Scone before leading all-the-way for a smart win over the 100 metres at Wellington. She then finished fifth at Narromine in track record time before going out for a spell.
"We didn’t know it at the time but being only a young filly, the fourth run in was just too much for her," Griffith said. "They ran a track record and she set the speed the whole way and wasn’t beat that far so it wasn’t too bad at all when you go through it. The track suits her style, she’s drawn a soft gate and has no weight. She should be very hard to run down."
Former Victorian gelding Hanuman was beaten into fifth at his New South Wales debut at Dubbo but can bounce back in the Maiden Plate over 1000 metres, according to his trainer. Prior to heading north, the four-year-old son of Exceedance had placed in all four Victorian starts, the latest at Sale last September. "He turned up here with a few problems so we decoded to take him to the races without a trial," Griffith noted. "He just got tired the last 100 metres so with that run under his belt, he should be primed for this. 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 Top 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 good book of rides and will be popular in the Jockey Challenge.
Inside Mail – Wellington
RACE 1: Western Truck Group Country Boosted 3yo & Up Maiden Plate 1000m
HANUMAN (1) was first-up for a new stable without a trial when he overraced and peaked late when fifth at Dubbo on Mar 15 as an odds-on favourite. He is fitter now and the cross-over nose band goes on. HEAD KAHUNA (5) was spelled after a debut third behind Nova Centauri at Scone last July. Spelled again following his third behind Into Brooklyn at Muswellbrook in November. Nice trial behind Rock Emperor at Scone on Apr 1.
Bet: Hanuman to win
RACE 2: Lss Locksmith & Security Solutions Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap 1700m
JASPER’S WAY (3) ran a couple of handy thirds at Tamworth and Muswellbrook at his first two runs back from a spell. Contested the WRA Country Championships Qualifier at Dubbo when ninth to Poisen Point. Back to his right grade. GREEN RUN (1) closed nicely to win a Bm66 over 1600m at Dubbo that same day before a sixth to Midnight Luna in the same grade last weekend over 1400m. Will also appreciate the drop in grade and step up in trip. JASON DARREN (2) is closing in on a win.
Bet: Jasper’s Way to win
RACE 3: Latitude Liquor Super Maiden Showcase Plate 1400m
HEROES’N’VILLAINS (7) was caught three-wide without cover and beaten under three lengths by Costalivin on debut at Wagga on Mar 12. Returned 17 days later and again had to do it tough out wide when fifth behind Pure Melody. Drawn gate 3 this time. CELEMAN ZOR (5) worked home nicely for third to Omaha Sands in his Warwick Farm trial. Run well on debut. ANY QUESTIONS (4) was behind the placegetters at his first three starts in provincial grade. Changed stables and was okay when third to Newy on the Beaumont last start.
Bet: Heroes’n’villains to win
RACE 4: Cleanpeak Energy Country Magic Class 1 Showcase Handicap 1100m
CHAPPOLICIOUS (7) resumed with a close third to Jagerschnitzel at Dubbo and a second to Shenandoah River at Scone before a win over this track and trip. Set a fast pace and faded last start before a spell. Nice Scone trial win and will take beating. RACE TO ARMS (1) was runner-up to Jagerschnitzel in that same race on debut before winning at Coonamble and a third to Brutal Love at Dubbo. Also resumes here off a nose second in his Orange trial. CHAMBER OF SECRETS (4) disappointed first-up but can bounce back.
Bet: Chappolicious to win
RACE 5: K.F.C Colonel’s Comet Benchmark 66 Showcase Handicap 900m
HAYEK (6) won first-up last campaign over 900m at Newcastle. Over did it in front when fifth at Hawkesbury before a spell. Won his recent Warwick Farm trial by 10 lengths. ECHELON (9) faded under pressure for seventh to Danxia when resuming on the Beaumont. Led but trapped three-wide when second to Solar Blast at Scone. Was a month between runs when a head second to Occult at Muswellbrook. Under a hold when third in his other heat. DENMAN FORCE (11) is racing in fine form.
Bet: Hayek to win
RACE 6: Peter Milling & Company ‘Peter Milling Memorial’ Big Dance Eligibility Wellington Showcase Cup 1700m
ZOUATICA (2) won the Bega Cup over 1600m before a fourth to Green Fly in the National Sprint over 1400m at Canberra. Back up to the mile for a solid third in the Bairnsdale Cup. Will go forward and give a great sight. PERFUMIST (1) disappointed first-up when last to Modella at Rosehill. Better second-up when seventh to Idle Flyer in the Group 2 Emancipation. Fitter now. AIMPOINT (9) is chasing back-to-back wins in the Cup. Will appreciate the drop in weight and blinkers on for the first time.
Bet: Zouatica each-way
RACE 7: Wellington Soldiers Memorial & Golf Club Wellington Boot Showcase 1100m
I’M A BEAUT (9) trialled nicely before racing away to an impressive four length win in the Boot Prelude at Dubbo on Mar 15. Drawn to get an ideal run behind the speed and will go close. HELLENIC BELLE (7) overraced when last behind Pembrey in the Group 3 Magic Night at Rosehill on debut. Bounced back with a half-length win from Better Off Alone in the Starmaker at Muswellbrook. BAR JESTER (1) beat Music Time on debut before a second and fourth to him in the Opal Preview and Black Opal.
Bet: I’m A Beaut to win
RACE 8: Wellington Soldiers Memorial & Golf Club Wellington Town Plate Showcase Open Handicap 1100m
HELLCIBELLE (3) was good leading all-the-way to win the Inverell Shorts on Jan 1 before a spell. Has a win and three placings from four first-up runs. PRIDE TO FOLLOW (4) was fifth to Chiciac in the H&NW Championships Qualifier over 1280m at Muswellbrook first-up. Followed with a tenth to Warrior For Peace in the Wild Card. Drop back in trip suits. SARATOGA POWER (1) was okay when fourth to Durova first-up at Muswellbrook and improved when third to the same horse in the Skellatar last start.
Bet: Hellcibelle to win
