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


The globetrotting Silver Knott was a 10-11 shot for his very first start in Britain considering that completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked most 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 cheekpieces for the 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 finished the more powerful to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding stated: "He's a classy horse, he's got some excellent type from last year and certainly the second is a great horse also.


"I was thrilled, since he 'd been a big dissatisfaction in the John Porter (at Newbury). He absolutely required the run that day and he's taken a big advance today. It's great 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 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 hard sufficient race there and it would be great to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


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