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 preferred Silver Knott in the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.


The globetrotting Silver Knott was a well-supported 10-11 shot for his first start in Britain since finishing 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 last 2 furlongs.


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 resurgence last month - managed to remain 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 form from last year and obviously the 2nd is a great horse as well.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was quite strong at the end of the race. It was an exceptional 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 hard enough race there and it would be good to have runners with a chance for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll try and we've constantly got the choice to take a trip later on in the year if we desire to."