“That was the definition of horsepower!”

A DECISION will be made next week regarding Ride High’s path into the Victoria Cup.

With the Grand Circuit event scheduled to be run at Tabcorp Park Melton on October 10, trainer Clayton Tonkin has yet to decide how many starts Ride High will have before the Group One.

The Minuteman Free-For-All on September 26 fits in with the routine of racing the son of Art Major on a fortnightly basis given the $24,000 feature is two weeks before the Cup.

In between those races is the $50,000 Smoken Up Sprint.

Tonkin stated he is yet to weigh-up the option of Ride High competing three weeks in a row or waiting for the Smoken Up Sprint as the five-year-old’s final hit out before the Cup.

“Originally I was looking at the Kilmore Cup in to the Victoria Cup, but Kilmore hasn’t been programmed due to Corona causing changes in dates,” Tonkin said.

“That leaves a couple of options in Melton but no decision has been made, although the Smoken Up Sprint shapes as a good option.”

Following his electrifying win in Terang just moments ago Ride High has firmed as favourite for the Cup.

The stallion heads the list at $2.10 with TAB Fixed Odds.

With Kate Gath holding the reins for the first time, Ride High avoided his galloping stablemate at the start to be midfield early from his second row draw.

Surged forward to find the lead as Beach Surge was eased to take a trial, Ride High strode clear of the pack approaching the home turn.

Never fully extended, Ride High cruised to a 20-metre win from Idealsomemagic, with Out To Play recovering from his early mistake to be three metres away third.

“That was the definition of horsepower,” Gath said. “He’s such a lovely horse, he just ambles along early, drops the bit, he pretty much just quickens himself when he needs to and when he does he just grabs the bit, puts his head down and wants to go.

“Around that last corner I was low-flying. He was just doing it so easily and I was just basically there for the ride, hanging on.

“I’ve never driven a horse that’s given me the feel that he gave me tonight.”

Taking his record to 16 wins and a third from 17 starts, Ride High rated 1:53.9 over a water-logged 1680 metres to be just three-tenths of a second outside the track record.