Orthodox could be put away as Cox eyes big prizes next year

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Wed 30 Sep 2026

Middle Park winner Orthodox could be done for the season but trainer Clive Cox has already mapped out a path to the top of next year’s sprinting honours board.

The Havana Grey colt put a disappointing run on soft ground in the Prix Morny at Deauville well and truly behind him when bouncing back to top form in Newmarket’s six-furlong Group One test last weekend.

Having made it three wins from four visits to the track, including a hugely impressive romp at Royal Ascot in the Norfolk Stakes, the colt could be put away with a top rank sprinting campaign in mind as a three-year-old.

A possible tilt at the Breeders Cup had been mentioned previously but Cox said: “We were thrilled with him and he has come back very well from Saturday’s Middle Park but we are still just mulling it over to whether we run again or not.

“I think it’s potentially more likely that after winning his Group One and finishing the season on a high our thoughts are more in line about next year. Nothing has been decided completely and we will probably give him another week or 10 days before we do.

“Whatever is decided I could not be more pleased with how he has progressed.

“He stays the six furlongs and as would be the normal case for a horse of that profile next season it would be prep race or two, the Pavilion (Ascot), Sandy Lane (Haydock) and Commonwealth Cup (Royal Ascot), that would be the direction we are thinking.”

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