Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually earned himself a location 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 given that finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas two 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 in 2015 and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - managed to stay 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 stated: "He's an elite horse, he's got some good kind from in 2015 and certainly the second is an extremely great horse as well.


"I was pleased, due to the fact that he 'd been a big frustration in the John Porter (at Newbury). He certainly needed the run that day and he's taken a big step forward today. It's good to see him back on track.


"I believe the cheekpieces helped - I think he was pretty strong 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 difficult adequate race there and it would be nice to have runners with a possibility for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


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