Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made 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 because ending up down the field in the 2000 Guineas two years ago - and he looked most likely to prevail after taking over the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the last two furlongs.


However, Andrew Balding's Bellum Justum (11-2) - a Group Three winner in America in 2015 and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time after being well beaten on his Newbury return last month - handled 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 good type from in 2015 and clearly the second is a great horse as well.


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


"I think the cheekpieces assisted - I believe he was pretty strong 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 for the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have believed. He's had a 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 have actually always got the option to travel later in the year if we want to."