How fast can he go? That's the question on the minds of many trots lovers as the countdown's on in earnest to Ride High's second-up run at Tabcorp Park Melton this Saturday.

Despite only having had 12 career starts, the five-year-old's name already features prominently throughout the record books and he appears well-placed to add another entry to the all-time top 10 quickest final quarters in the Melton City Council Sprint, which streams on Trots Vision at 6.32pm on Saturday.

Ride High hasn't put a foot wrong at trainer Clayton Tonkin and Emma Stewart's stable since his audacious first-up win on June 20, with Stewart saying “he’s doing everything right" and adding "he’s been working super this week”.

Having already delved into his dominance in the final 800 metres, let's take a closer look at who's shone most brightly in the sprint to the line.

Since the track's opening on March 2009, the top 10 quickest final quarters recorded by winners is dominated by all-the-way victories, with leaders often pinching a cheap quarter and then powering to the post, but there are a few exceptions. Notably, the times available refer to race leaders, not individual horses point-to-point sectionals.

One thing that is assured is that Ride High stands alone at the top of the pops.

Here are the top 10 final quarters recorded by winners at Tabcorp Park Melton:

WINNER RACE DISTANCE DATE Q4 MR
RIDE HIGH IRT BREEDERS CROWN (3YO C&Gs)  2240 25/8/18 25.7 1:55.2
RIDE HIGH VALE ROD OSBORNE PACE 1720 20/6/20 25.8 1:51.6
POSTER BOY VHRSC VICTORIA SIRES CLASSIC 2240 7/4/18 25.9 1:56.8
MILLY PEREZ TAB.COM.AU PACE 2240 6/1/17 26.0 1:57.0
MAKES EVERY SCENTS SCHWEPPES PACE 1720 24/8/18 26.1 1:55.6
MACHA CADUCEUS CLUB CUP 2240 16/2/13 26.2 1:56.1
BORN TO ROCKNROLL COGS SERVICES RISING STARS PACE (HEAT) 2240 26/1/19 26.2 1:56.8
RESTREPO HOT TO TROT 4YO BONANZA 1720 16/2/13 26.2 1:52.4
STUNNING GRIN COUGAR BOURBON PACE 1720 7/5/16 26.2 1:55.9
MOONROCK RAY 'ROCKY' BAKER MEMORIAL FFA 1720 19/1/18 26.2 1:54.8

 

Let's relive all 10:

No. 1 Ride High

Amazingly, Ride High set the standard over the middle distance when he scored in the COGS 4YO & 5YO Championship with a 25.7-second last quarter.

 

No. 2 Ride High

Plugs in, untouched and first-up in seven months, Ride High stopped the clock at 25.8 seconds for the last quarter, including the all-time quickest last half (52.7 seconds), in last month's Vale Rod Osborne Pace.

 

No. 3 Poster Boy

The VHRSC Victoria Sires Classic became Poster Boy's plaything as he rattled home for a Group 3 win.

 

No. 4 Milly Perez

She was a mighty mare Milly Perez and on this occasion she burst off WhereIbylong's back and zipped down the sprint lane to claim the TAB.com.au Pace and stop the clock at 26 seconds flat.

 

No. 5 Makes Every Scents

Breeders Crown's Championship night began in a fast fashion as David Aiken's Makes Every Scents led and refused to give its rivals a sniff.

 

Equal 6th Macha

Lightly-raced Macha had Guaranteed and Lennytheshark breathing down his neck but answered the challenge with an all-the-way.

 

Equal 6th Born To Rocknroll

On a night when all eyes were on Melton for the Great Southern Star and Victoria Derby, Born To Rocknroll grabbed his share of the spotlight with an all-the-way win in the Rising Stars Pace.

 

Equal 6th Restrepo

Only one race before Macha matched his scintillating last quarter, Restrepo clocked up a 26.2-second last 400 metres in winning the 4YO Bonanza with Smolda on his outside.

 

Equal 6th Stunning Grin

A 26.2 final quarter was a walk in the park for Stunning Grin in the Cougar Bourbon Pace.

 

Equal 6th Moonrock

While most members of the last quarter hall of fame rolled along in front and dropped the hammer for the last quarter, Moonrock did it the tough way, sitting three-wide and then breeze before blowing his rivals away.