Orthodox rebounded impressively from his loss in the Prix Morny, stepping up to the highest level for the first time in the Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket and emerging victorious. The race began with Force Noir taking the early lead, dictating a brisk tempo at the front of the field. However, jockey Rossa Ryan quickly challenged this early pace, urging the Norfolk Stakes winner Orthodox to respond as they approached the three‑furlong marker. The Clive Cox‑trained colt, sent off at 7‑2, was forced to battle all the way to the finish line.
In a thrilling duel, he was edged out by Robson De Aguiar’s Force Noir, a horse that had been offered at long odds, but the margin was razor‑thin – just a neck separated the two. The race favourite, Inner City Blues, never managed to get into contention.
Cox expressed his delight at the win, noting that the team had always believed in the horse’s ability. "We always had confidence in him and it was always a question of would he handle the track with the quicker ground a bonus for this time of year," he said. He added that the conditions at Newmarket were unusually firm, which suited Orthodox’s running style. "Sometimes it is not as quick as this and I'm just thrilled he has shown what we all see at home, as he is pretty special in the mornings and he's special in the afternoons as well.
He's tough and very able and it was a big team effort to get him here and I'm over the moon," Cox continued. Rossa Ryan also received high praise for his ride. "I think he got away with the track and Rossa was supreme the way he coaxed him through the dip and then set sail after that.
I thought it was a supreme ride and I'm thrilled. Rossa is a regular in the mornings and knows exactly what he's riding and what he's up against as well," Cox remarked, highlighting the jockey’s familiarity with the horse and his ability to navigate the course’s undulating sections.
This victory marked the third Middle Park win for Cox, joining the likes of Reckless Abandon in 2012 and Supremacy in 2020, both of which were also owned by Jason Goddard. Looking ahead, Orthodox’s future appears firmly rooted in sprinting, a division where Cox has consistently excelled. Ladbrokes and Coral have already placed odds of 12‑1 on the colt for next year’s Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting, underscoring his status as a top‑class sprinter. The connections are also entertaining the idea of a trans‑Atlantic campaign.
Cox hinted at a possible trip to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup, saying, "I would be hugely excited by this fellow. I know his family really well and his aunt won the Queen Mary for us (Heartache).
I think he's blessed with the ability to race over five furlongs or six, but I don't think there can be any doubt he gets six and he proved that today. He had the gears to win well over five furlongs at Ascot and he's a very talented sprinter and a joy to have. It's a joy to have these horses and it means the world.
He could go to the Breeders' Cup and we'll see how he comes back and discuss it with Jason. It is a possibility, but we have to enjoy today first and then discuss the future over the next few days." In addition to Orthodox’s story, the meeting featured a standout performance by Haffner, who rebounded from a disappointing National Stakes run with a decisive win in the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the colt broke cleanly and soon took the lead, pulling away a furlong and a half from the finish. He won by one and a quarter lengths, delivering O'Brien his record eighth Royal Lodge victory and giving jockey Ryan Moore his first in the race.
Karl Burke’s Burning Up finished second, representing the colours of last year’s winner Bow Echo. O'Brien praised Haffner’s adaptability, noting that softer ground at the Curragh had hampered his previous effort. "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, he's going to be a French Derby type horse.
He'll get the Guineas trip on his ear, will stay a mile and a quarter and could even get further, so I'm delighted. He's a good mover and we didn't think the ground was going to be as soft as it was at the Curragh.
He's a beautiful mover and we were happy to draw a line through that and he was always in control today. Ryan gave him a beautiful uncomplicated ride and it was very simple really. His form was different class really and his only blip was in the National Stakes. We knew that was because of the ground and we knew he would get the mile very easily.
He's an Acomb winner and his form is so strong," the trainer explained. Paddy Power have already offered Haffner 4‑1 odds for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland next month, and O'Brien confirmed that a trip to America is on the agenda. "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. 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," O'Brien added.
Both Orthodox and Haffner exemplify the resilience and versatility that elite trainers seek in their young horses. Their recent victories not only restore confidence after earlier setbacks but also open doors to prestigious future targets, whether at Royal Ascot, in the United States, or in classic middle‑distance races.
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