Orthodox rebounded from his loss in the Prix Morny by stepping up to the highest level for the first time in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, delivering a performance that reminded everyone of his true class. The race began with Force Noir taking the early lead, establishing a brisk tempo at the front of the field. Rossa Ryan, aboard Orthodox, quickly settled his mount and, after a short spell of restraint, began to test the Norfolk Stakes winner around the three‑furlong point. The Clive Cox‑trained colt, sent out at 7‑2, was pressed all the way to the finish line by Robson De Aguiar’s Force Noir, who was offered at generous odds.

In a tightly contested finish, Orthodox edged his rival by a neck, while the race favourite, Inner City Blues, never managed to get into contention. The victory marked a welcome return to winning form for the Royal Ascot scorer, and Cox could not hide his enthusiasm. "We always had confidence in him," Cox said after the race. "The question was whether he would handle the quicker ground that comes with this time of year.

Sometimes the ground isn’t as fast, but I’m thrilled he showed what we see at home – he’s special both in the mornings and the afternoons. He’s tough, very able, and it was a huge team effort to get him here. I’m over the moon." He continued, praising Rossa Ryan’s ride: "I think he got away with the track, and Rossa was supreme the way he guided him through the dip and then let him unleash.

It was a supreme ride, and I’m thrilled. Rossa knows exactly what he’s riding and what he’s up against, and he’s a regular in the mornings, which helped a lot." This win gave Cox his third Middle Park victory, having previously guided Reckless Abandon in 2012 and Supremacy in 2020, both of which, like Orthodox, were owned by Jason Goddard. With Orthodox clearly pointing toward a sprinting future – a division where Cox has long excelled – Ladbrokes and Coral have already offered odds of 12‑1 for the colt’s next major target, the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next year.

Before that, the connections are weighing a trip across the Atlantic to the Breeders’ Cup. "I would be hugely excited by this fellow," Cox added. "I know his family well – his aunt won the Queen Mary for us (Heartache). He has the ability to race over five or six furlongs, but there’s no doubt he can handle six, and he proved that today.

He had the gear to win comfortably over five furlongs at Ascot and is a very talented sprinter, a joy to have in the stable." Cox also hinted at possible plans for the Breeders’ Cup, noting that the team would first enjoy the current success before mapping out the next steps. "It’s a possibility, but we have to enjoy today first and then discuss the future over the next few days," he said. In related news, Haffner rebounded from a disappointing National Stakes run with a clear‑cut victory in the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the race featured a duel between Quest For Stars and First Law for the early lead, with Iwasjustsaying isolated on the far side of the course.

Aidan O’Brien’s Haffner made his move a furlong and a half from the finish, pulling away decisively as the other contenders struggled to keep up. The well‑backed 7‑4 favourite won by one and a quarter lengths, delivering O’Brien his record eighth Royal Lodge win and giving jockey Ryan Moore his first in the event.

Karl Burke’s Burning Up finished a strong second for the colours of last year’s winner, Bow Echo. O’Brien praised the colt’s performance, saying, "The ground got soft at the Curragh the last day which didn’t suit him.

He’s going to be a lovely middle‑distance horse next year, a French Derby type. He’ll get the Guineas trip on his ear, will stay a mile and a quarter and could even go further, so I’m delighted. He’s a good mover, and we didn’t think the ground would be as soft as it was at the Curragh. He’s a beautiful mover, and we were happy to draw a line through that – he was always in control today.

Ryan gave him a beautiful, uncomplicated ride and it was very simple, really." He added that Haffner’s only blemish was the National Stakes, attributing it to the unsuitable ground, and expressed confidence that the colt would handle a mile with ease. "He’s an Acomb winner and his form is so strong," O’Brien concluded.

Paddy Power have already made Haffner a 4‑1 contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland next month, and O’Brien hinted that America could be the next destination for the talented son of Justify. "America is very possible next, where he will get nice ground. He would love the Breeders’ Cup round a bend and the mile would be very easy for him, so we’ll see what the lads want to do," O’Brien said. "America was always a possibility and the last day was a blip, but we had to come here today to make sure we knew exactly that it was and he’s got back on track.

I think he could start in a Guineas next year and then we will see him stepping up in trip."