Bellum Justum Seals Royal Ascot Ticket

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Bellum Justum appears to have made himself a put on Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot team 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 first start in Britain given that 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 last year 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 stronger to score by a length and a half under .


Balding stated: "He's a high-class horse, he's got some excellent kind from last year and undoubtedly the 2nd is an extremely good horse also.


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


"I think the cheekpieces helped - 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 wait on the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot), I would have thought. He's had a tough adequate race there and it would be nice to have runners with a chance for King Power (owners) at the Royal meeting.


"We'll offer it a go and we have actually always got the choice to take a trip later on in the year if we wish to."