Betfred Jockey Club Stakes |
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| Group 2, Newmarket 16:05 £125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1  |
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1 Bellum Justum 11/2
2
Silver Knott 10/11F
3
Divina Grace 4/1
4 ran Distances: 1½l, 6½l, 36l
Time: 2m 32.39s (slow by 3.99s)
AN ANDREW BALDING TREBLE 🥇🥇🥇
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 2, 2025
Bellum Justum finishes strongly to win the Betfred Jockey Club Stakes 🏆#ITVRacing | @NewmarketRace | @oismurphy | @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/QSvOT9Clvs
A return to home soil for Silver Knott, a first-time visor for Bellum Justum, and a finish that rewrote the script in the closing strides — it was Andrew Balding’s charge who emerged strongest, landing a deserved Group win and likely booking his ticket to Royal Ascot in the process.
There was money for the globetrotter. Silver Knott, back on British turf for the first time since the 2023 Guineas, was well backed into 10-11 and looked the likely answer when gliding past Divina Grace as they approached the two-furlong marker.
But that’s where the real story began.
Down into the dip, Bellum Justum – blinkers swapped for cheekpieces, and fresher for his Newbury pipe-opener – stuck to the task with real intent. With Silver Knott drifting marginally off a true line, Oisin Murphy kept his partner straight, strong, and surging. And with a final punch up the rising ground, he wore down the favourite in determined fashion, scoring by a length and a half at 11-2.
“He’s always had the ability,” said Balding post-race. “Last time was below par, but he’s come forward plenty. The cheekpieces? They certainly didn’t hurt.”
A Group 3 winner in the U.S. last term, this was his first domestic statement at pattern level — and with the Hardwicke Stakes now firmly pencilled in, he could be set to fly the flag for King Power Racing on the biggest stage of all.
“He’s had a hard race today,” Balding added. “But that’s what you want at this level. A proper contest — and a horse heading the right way again.”
Jockey Club Stakes
£125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 4f, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3) Bellum Justum 4 9-5 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 11/2
2 (1) 1½ Silver Knott 5 9-5 Charlie Appleby William Buick 10/11F
3 (2) 6½ Divina Grace 5 9-2 Andrew Balding David Probert 4/1
4 (4) 36 Ambiente Friendly 4 9-5 James Owen Harry Davies 4/1
