Orthodox victory for Clive Cox in Norfolk Orthodox produced a stunning performance under Rossa Ryan to land a second Norfolk Stakes for trainer Clive Cox at Royal Ascot. Produced at the furlong marker after the Wesley Ward trio of Ez Tina, Fanshell Beach and Through The Years set a furious pace for four furlongs, Ryan brought the winner through at the furlong marker. After taking it up, the well-backed Orthodox (9-2) burst clear of the field to settle it in a matter of strides, winning by three and a half lengths. El Floridita, trained by Nigel Tinkler, stayed on to grab second place at 150-1, with the Richard and Peter Fahey-trained Mussab (66-1) in third. Lambourn handler Cox – who won the Norfolk with Reckless Abandon in 2012 – said: “He won at Salisbury and that was exciting, but we were only scratching the surface and since then he’s just surprised me the way he’s gone with older horses. “I would say this horse is pretty special. His aunt, Heartache, won the Queen Mary for us and that was a special day, but this fellow’s the next level. Cox Visualises Step-Up to Six Furlongs “He’ll go to six furlongs, I don’t think that’s a problem. Reckless Abandon went from here to the Robert Papin which was five and a half in the old days, but that is six now. “The five-furlong options tend to dry up a little bit; I think he’ll get six quite cosily. He’s just so talented and so fast. “I think six will be within his compass very easily, he’s just a really, really nice horse.” A thrilled Tinkler said of El Floridita: “He was sold at the Goffs Sale on Monday and he cost them £100,000, but I think it was money well spent now. “I sold a third of him that day and I don’t know now if I should be really pleased or not, but it’s nice to have these American fellas putting their money where their mouth is, so best of luck to them. “I thought he’d finish in the first six or seven and I’d have taken sixth. Obviously the winner won very easily, but ours was given a great ride by Rowan (Scptt) so happy days. “He’s a five-furlong speedster and he’ll go for all those good races now, and definitely the Molecomb. He’ll stay with me hopefully.”
