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 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 completing down the field in the 2000 Guineas 2 years ago - and he looked most likely to dominate 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 last year and fitted with cheekpieces for the very first time after being well beaten on his Newbury comeback last month - managed 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 stated: "He's an elite horse, he's got some excellent type from in 2015 and obviously the 2nd is a really great horse too.


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


"I think the cheekpieces assisted - I think he was pretty strong at the end of the race. It was an excellent 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 difficult sufficient race there and it would be good to have runners with an opportunity for King Power (owners) at the Royal conference.


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