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 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 because completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked likely to dominate 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 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 excellent type from in 2015 and obviously the 2nd is an extremely good horse also.


"I was delighted, 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 action forward today. It's good 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 exceptional 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 great to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


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