Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have made himself a place on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad after wearing 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 first start in Britain given that finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas two years ago - and he looked likely to prevail after taking control of the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the final two 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 ended up the more powerful to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding said: "He's a high-class horse, he's got some great kind from in 2015 and undoubtedly the 2nd is a great horse as well.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was pretty solid 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 wait for the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a hard sufficient race there and it would be good to have runners with a for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll offer it a go and we have actually constantly got the choice to take a trip later on in the year if we wish to."