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 preferred 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 Guineas two years ago - and he looked likely to prevail 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 last year and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury return last month - managed 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 .


Balding said: "He's a classy horse, he's got some good kind from last year and undoubtedly the second is a really great horse also.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I think he was quite strong at the end of the race. It was an excellent performance.


Bellum Justum ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy on their method 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 adequate race there and it would be great to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll provide it a go and we've constantly got the alternative to take a trip later on in the year if we wish to."