Orthodox rebounded from his loss in the Prix Morny with a decisive performance at Newmarket’s Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes, proving he could compete at the very top level for the first time. The race unfolded with Force Noir taking charge early, establishing a brisk tempo at the front of the field. However, jockey Rossa Ryan soon intervened, easing his mount’s early effort and urging the Norfolk Stakes winner Orthodox to quicken as they approached the three‑furlong point.
The Clive Cox‑trained colt, sent off at 7‑2, was pressed hard by Force Noir, a long‑shot owned by Robson De Aguiar, all the way to the finish line. In a nail‑biting finish, Orthodox edged out his rival by a neck, while the race favourite Inner City Blues never managed to get into contention.
Cox expressed his delight at the result, noting that the team had always believed in the horse’s ability. “We always had confidence in him and the question was whether he would handle the track on this quick ground,” the trainer said. “Sometimes the ground isn’t as fast as this, 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 capable, and it was a huge team effort to get him here. I’m over the moon.” He continued, praising Ryan’s ride: “Rossa got the perfect position on the dip and then let him loose.
It was a superb ride, and I’m thrilled. Rossa knows exactly what he’s doing in the mornings and what he’s up against in the afternoons.” This victory marked Cox’s third Middle Park win, joining the likes of Reckless Abandon (2012) and Supremacy (2020), both of which, like Orthodox, were owned by Jason Goddard. With his future clearly pointing toward sprint distances—Cox’s specialty—Orthodox was offered odds of 12‑1 by Ladbrokes and Coral for next year’s Commonwealth Cup at the Royal Meeting.
Looking beyond the British season, Cox hinted at a possible transatlantic campaign. “I would be hugely excited about this horse. His family is well‑known to us – his aunt won the Queen Mary for us (Heartache).
He has the speed to win over five furlongs or six, and today he proved he can handle six. He has the turn of foot for a five‑furlong sprint at Ascot and is a very talented sprinter, a real joy to have,” Cox said. “A trip to the Breeders’ Cup is on the table; we’ll discuss it with Jason after we enjoy today’s success. It’s a possibility, but we’ll take it one step at a time.” In related news, another promising youngster, Haffner, left behind a lackluster run in the National Stakes to claim a clear victory in the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes, also at Newmarket.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the race saw a duel between Quest For Stars and First Law for the early lead, with First Law racing prominently on the far side of the course alongside Iwasjustsaying. Aidan O’Brien’s Haffner made his move a furlong and a half from the finish, pulling away from the field as First Law and Quest For Stars could not keep pace. 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 race.
Karl Burke’s Burning Up finished strongly to take second place for the colours of last year’s winner Bow Echo. O’Brien praised the colt’s adaptability after the race.
“The ground turned soft at the Curragh the previous day, which didn’t suit him. He’s going to be a lovely middle‑distance horse next year – a French Derby type. He’ll handle the Guineas distance, can stay a mile and a quarter and might even go further.
I’m delighted,” the trainer said. “He moves beautifully; we didn’t expect the ground to be as soft as it was at the Curragh, but he stayed in control all day.
Ryan gave him a clean, uncomplicated ride – it was very simple.” He added that Haffner’s only blemish had been the soft ground in the National Stakes, a factor they expected to improve on. “His form is of a different class. The only dip was due to the ground, and we know he’ll take a mile easily. He’s an Acomb winner and his form is strong.” Paddy Power have offered Haffner a 4‑1 price for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland next month, and O’Brien confirmed that a trip to America is a realistic target 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 has always been a possibility; the soft ground was a blip, but today we’ve confirmed he’s back on track.
He could start in a Guineas next year and then we’ll see him step up in trip.” Both trainers emphasized the importance of enjoying the present successes before planning future campaigns. Cox and O’Brien highlighted the collaborative effort of their teams, the horses’ versatility, and the strategic considerations involved in targeting prestigious races both domestically and abroad.
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