win easily by three lengths from Brighton and Fulmen. In the next phase of his career, Melton moved into handicap races with limited success. On 21 July he carried top weight of 130 won the Leicestershire Cup over one mile, and won impressively, beating twelve opponents in a common canter. Five days later at Goodwood he carried 146 pounds in the Stewards’ Cup and finished unplaced behind Crafton who carried 109. Two days after this defeat he reappeared in the ten furlong Chesterfield Cup at the same course, again under 146 pounds, and finished unplaced behind Saraband after racing prominently until the closing stages. The decision to run the colt under such heavy weights was strongly criticised in some quarters. A rematch between Ormonde and Melton at level weights, with Bendigo and The Bard also invited, was proposed for October at Newmarket, but failed to materialise despite considerable interest. At Newmarket on 1 October he started favourite for the October Handicap, but ran disappointingly behind an unnamed filly (later named Creeper) to whom he was conceding fifty pounds. On 22 October he put up an improved effort when finishing fourth to The Sailor Prince under top weight of 133 pounds in the Cambridgeshire. A move up to staying distances followed, as he contested the Jockey Club Cup over two and a quarter miles. In this race he finally met St Gatien in public but proved no match for the five-year-old, who won by eight lengths. Later reports suggested that Melton had been running "drunk" having been given a drink of whisky and water before the race. After this defeat, some felt that it was "madness" to persevere with the colt, but on November 9 he was sent to Liverpool for the one and a half mile Liverpool Autumn Cup. Carrying top weight as usual, Melton was not well fancied but managed to end his career with a victory, taking the lead inside the last quarter mile and running on strongly under Jack Watts to win by two lengths. Stud career Melton retired to the Falmouth House stud at Newmarket for one season and was then moved to the Hampton Court stud for the next two years. He was then sold for £10,000 and exported to Italy, where he spent the next seven years at a stud near Pisa. In 1897 he returned to England and stood at the Westerham Hill