Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made himself a place on Andrew Balding's squad 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 finishing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked likely to dominate after taking control of 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 return 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 a high-class horse, he's got some excellent form from last year and clearly the second is an extremely great horse as well.


"I was thrilled, due to the fact that he 'd been a big dissatisfaction in the John Porter (at Newbury). He definitely required 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 quite solid at the end of the race. It was an outstanding 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 await the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a hard enough race there and it would be great to have runners with a possibility for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll give it a go and we've constantly got the option to travel later in the year if we want to."