Saturday, 3 May 2025: Bellum Justum overturned short-priced favourite Silver Knott in the 1m4f Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

BELLUM JUSTUM winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in England.

Andrew Balding 's charge had earned a reputation as a possible Derby candidate when winning the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom last April and finished midfield in the Classic a month-and-a-half later. Third at Ascot in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes, the colt was taken abroad for a tilt at the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, duly scoring by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Returning after the winter break, Bellum Justum  was comprehensibly beaten in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury behind the re-opposing Divina Grace , but he presented as a colt who would come forward for the run. Sent off the unfancied 11/2 outsider of the quartet, the four-year-old always travelled well under Oisin Murphy and followed the progression of Silver Knott as the Godolphin horse made a bid with two furlongs to run. The race appeared to be at Silver Knott's mercy, but Bellum Justum showed determination to stay on strongly in the closing stages for a one-and-a-half length success.

Speaking to Racing TV, winning trainer Andrew Balding said:"He's a high class horse with some good form from last year. The second is a very good horse as well.

"We're delighted because he was a very big disappointment in the John Porter (Stakes) (Gr.3), so it's good to see him back on track."

The run marked the application of first-time cheekpieces on Bellum Justum, which Balding felt aided the improvement: "I think they helped, he was pretty solid at the end of the race. It was an excellent performance.

"I think we'll wait for the Hardwicke Stakes. He's had a hard enough race there and it would be nice to have runner with a chance for King Power at the Royal Meeting."