Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have actually made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team after using 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 two years ago - and he looked likely to after taking control of the lead from the pacesetting Divina Grace heading towards the final 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 comeback last month - handled to stay on Silver Knott's tail racing out of the dip and finished 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 great type from last year and certainly the second is an excellent horse too.


"I was pleased, due to the fact that he 'd been a huge dissatisfaction in the John Porter (at Newbury). He absolutely required the run that day and he's taken a huge advance today. It's great to see him back on track.


"I believe the cheekpieces helped - I believe he was pretty solid at the end of the race. It was an outstanding efficiency.


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 believed. He's had a tough enough race there and it would be nice to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


"We'll offer it a go and we have actually always got the alternative to travel later in the year if we wish to."