Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad after wearing 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 given that completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked likely to prevail after taking over 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 - handled 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 said: "He's an elite horse, he's got some good type from in 2015 and obviously the 2nd is a great horse too.


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


"I believe the cheekpieces helped - I think 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 on the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have believed. He's had a tough enough race there and it would be great to have runners with a chance for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll try and we have actually always got the choice to take a trip later on in the year if we wish to."