Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually earned himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team after wearing down odds-on preferred 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 ending up down the field in the 2000 Guineas two years ago - and he looked most likely to prevail 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 first time after being well beaten on his Newbury return last month - managed to stay on Silver Knott's tail racing out of the dip and completed the stronger to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding said: "He's an elite horse, he's got some good type from last year and obviously the 2nd is an excellent horse too.


"I was pleased, due to the fact that he 'd been a huge disappointment in the John Porter (at Newbury). He definitely needed the run that day and he's taken a big step forward today. It's great to see him back on track.


"I think 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 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 await the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a difficult 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've constantly got the choice to travel later in the year if we wish to."