Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have earned himself a location on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad after using down 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 completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked most likely to dominate after taking over 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 in 2015 and fitted with cheekpieces 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 completed the stronger to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding said: "He's a high-class horse, he's got some excellent form from last year and clearly the second is an excellent horse too.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I think he was pretty solid 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 difficult adequate race there and it would be great to have runners with a possibility for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


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