Melton’s sire, Master Kildare, who was also owned by Lord Hastings, was a successful racehorse who won the Alexandra Plate at Royal Ascot and the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom.

Melton quickened well and won a "most exciting" race by half a length from Xantrailles, with the Duke of Westminster's colt and Royal Hampton dead-heating for third.

[4] Melton went into the winter break as second favourite for the following year's Derby at odds of 10/1,[10] and was reported to be the chosen ride of Fred Archer.

He started at odds of 2/5 and won "with great ease"[12] from Kingwood and the future Oaks winner Lonely, to confirm his status as a leading contender for the Derby.

[16] Melton made gradual but relentless progress to catch Paradox "in the last stride" and win by a head in a "desperate finish",[17] with Archer riding one of his strongest races.

[16] Melton's win, which cost the English bookmakers an estimated £450,000,[19] made him the first Middle Park Plate winner to go on to take the Derby.

As the leaders drifted wide on the home turn, Archer drove Melton through the gap on the inside and quickly opened up a clear lead.

[24] After St Gatien was beaten under 136 pounds in the Cambridgeshire, Hammond responded to Hastings by suggesting that a match could take place the following season for a stake of between £5,000 and £20,000.

[25] Early in 1886, Melton was reported to have defeated St Gatien at level weights in a private trial, although details are few and it is unclear whether or not this was an official match.

[26] Melton officially began his four-year-old season in the Hardwicke Stakes, in which he was matched against the outstanding three-year-old Ormonde for a much anticipated contest.

Archer sent Melton into the lead before halfway, and in the closing stages he pulled clear to win easily by three lengths from Brighton and Fulmen.

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.

[31] A rematch between Ormonde and Melton at level weights, with Bendigo and The Bard also invited, was proposed for October at Newmarket,[32] but failed to materialise[33] despite considerable interest.

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.