Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad after wearing down odds-on favourite Silver Knott in the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.


The globetrotting Silver Knott was a well-supported 10-11 shot for his very first start in Britain given that completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked likely to dominate after taking control of the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the final two .


However, Andrew Balding's Bellum Justum (11-2) - a Group Three winner in America in 2015 and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - handled to remain on Silver Knott's tail racing out of the dip and completed the more powerful to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding said: "He's a high-class horse, he's got some great kind from in 2015 and undoubtedly the second is an excellent horse as well.


"I was pleased, since he 'd been a big disappointment in the John Porter (at Newbury). He absolutely required the run that day and he's taken a huge advance today. It's good to see him back on track.


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was quite solid at the end of the race. It was an outstanding efficiency.


Bellum Justum ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy on their way to winning the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes on Guineas Friday of the Betfred Guineas Festival at Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk. Picture date: Friday May 2, 2025.


"We'll wait on the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have believed. He's had a tough adequate race there and it would be nice to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll try and we have actually constantly got the option to travel later on in the year if we wish to."