Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have earned 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 since ending up down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked most 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 last year and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - handled to remain on Silver Knott's tail racing out of the dip and ended up the stronger to score by a length and a half under Oisin Murphy.


Balding stated: "He's a high-class horse, he's got some excellent kind from in 2015 and undoubtedly the second is a really great horse as well.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was quite solid at the end of the race. It was an outstanding 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 on the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a hard adequate race there and it would be good to have runners with a possibility for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll try and we have actually constantly got the choice to travel later on in the year if we wish to."