We’ve seen him stamp his name all over the Melton record books, can Ride High repeat the dose at Bray Raceway on Saturday night?
That’s the question that’ll be on many lips when he steps out in the TAB Long May We Play Pace at 6.30pm for trainer Clayton Tonkin and reinswoman Kima Frenning.
Paul Campbell, who will share hosting Trots Vision duties on Saturday night with Dan Mielicki and Dave Brehaut, said Ride High was “a rock star” and “could probably do whatever he likes”.
“He just got something about him, he’s just got a presence,” Campbell told Trots Talk. “Emma (Stewart) and Clayton, they present their horses immaculately, but this horse – he’s the next step up. I can’t wait to see him in the Parade Ring at Ballarat on Saturday night, that’s for sure.”
Saturday marks Ride High’s debut at the stable’s home track, Bray Raceway, and he’ll need to be brisk to stamp his name in more top 10 times over the 1710-metre distance.
The mile rate belongs to former stablemate The Storm Inside, who stopped the clock at 1:50.7, lowering Beach Surge’s (1:51.8) benchmark by more than a second in his aptly named Lightning Sprint win on Boxing Day. Rackemup Tigerpie (1:52.1) and Im Pats Delight (1:52.2) are next quickest.
Of those who set fire to Ballarat’s final straight, none were quicker than Tact Tate, who hit the line in a 25.8-second final quarter on the back of a succession of 30-second quarters. Set on January 21 2017, the last quarter record survived 2018’s short-course Inter Dominion heats, when Wrappers Delight (26.1 seconds) and Cruz Bromac (26.3) both ripped home. Duke Of Albany (26.1 seconds) and Jazz King (26.2) complete the top five.
Wrappers Delight’s express last quarter was part of the quickest last half (800 metres) run at Bray Raceway, a domain Ride High has made his own at Tabcorp Park Melton. Can he join this list on Saturday night?
TOP 10 LAST HALVES RECORDED BY WINNERS AT BALLARAT OVER 1710M:
| WINNER | RACE NAME | DATE | LAST 800 | Q3 | Q4 | MR |
| WRAPPERS DELIGHT | TAB INTER DOMINION (HEAT) | 4/12/18 | 53.9 | 27.8 | 26.1 | 1:53.6 |
| JOE NIEN | DREVER SIGNS PACE | 26/12/18 | 54.2 | 27.5 | 26.7 | 1:54.2 |
| AMERICAN ALLI | FLYING HORSE PACE | 4/6/20 | 54.5 | 27.3 | 27.2 | 1:56.2 |
| THE STORM INSIDE | LIGHTNING SPRINT | 26/12/19 | 54.6 | 27.3 | 27.3 | 1:50.7 |
| CENTENARIO | C&H HOLLOWAY 3YO CLASSIC | 24/5/19 | 54.6 | 28.2 | 26.4 | 1:53.4 |
| CYRUS | MY LIGHTNING BLUE FFA | 13/12/14 | 54.6 | 27.8 | 26.8 | 1:54.0 |
| SOMEBEACHSHADOW | HEWITT & WHITTY PACE | 19/2/19 | 54.8 | 27.8 | 27 | 1:57.6 |
| RACKEMUP TIGERPIE | VHRSC LIGHTNING SPRINT | 26/12/18 | 54.9 | 28.2 | 26.7 | 1:52.1 |
| ROY GEORGE | PETSTOCK PACE | 21/1/17 | 54.9 | 28.5 | 26.4 | 1:54.1 |
| BETTORS PACKAGE | VICBRED PLAT CTRY SERIES | 26/12/14 | 54.9 | 28.6 | 26.3 | 1:55.0 |
LET’S RELIVE ALL 10:
No. 1 Wrappers Delight
No. 2 Joe Nien
No. 3 American Alli
No. 4 The Storm Inside
No. 5 Centenario
No. 6 Cyrus
No. 7 Somebeachshadow
No. 8 Rackemup Tigerpie
No. 9 Roy George
No. 10 Bettors Package
