Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad after using 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 considering that ending up down the field in the 2000 2 years ago - and he looked most likely to prevail after taking over the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the last two furlongs.


However, Andrew Balding's Bellum Justum (11-2) - a Group Three winner in America last year and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - handled to stay 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 an elite horse, he's got some excellent kind from in 2015 and undoubtedly the second is an excellent horse as well.


"I was thrilled, 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 big action forward today. It's good to see him back on track.


"I think the cheekpieces assisted - I think he was pretty strong at the end of the race. It was an outstanding 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 await the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have believed. He's had a difficult adequate race there and it would be nice to have runners with a chance for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll try and we've constantly got the alternative to travel later on in the year if we desire to."