Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team 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 because ending up down the field in the 2000 Guineas two years ago - and he looked likely to dominate after taking control of the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the final 2 furlongs.


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


Balding said: "He's an elite horse, he's got some excellent kind from last year and obviously the second is a very excellent horse as well.


"I was delighted, due to the fact that he 'd been a huge dissatisfaction in the John Porter (at Newbury). He certainly required the run that day and he's taken a huge step forward today. It's good to see him back on track.


"I believe the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was pretty strong at the end of the race. It was an outstanding performance.


Bellum Justum ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy on their method 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 for the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have believed. He's had a difficult adequate race there and it would be great to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll try and we've constantly got the option to travel later in the year if we want to."