Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

Bellum Justum appears to have made himself a place on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team after wearing 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 completing 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 2 .


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 remain 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 said: "He's an elite horse, he's got some great kind from in 2015 and undoubtedly the 2nd is a great horse as well.


"I was delighted, due to the fact that he 'd been a huge disappointment 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 assisted - I think he was quite solid at the end of the race. It was an excellent 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 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 give it a go and we have actually always got the choice to take a trip later on in the year if we desire to."