By Alan Carasso
King Power Racing's Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was the recipient of a letter-perfect steer from Frankie Dettori, split horses with less than a quarter-mile to race and held off a rails rally from GI Saratoga Derby hero Carson's Run (Cupid) to take out the GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational at Kentucky Downs.
Last to make the first corner with a truncated run from the start, Bellum Justum was no better than third-last turning down the backstretch as Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) showed the way, but the Andrew Balding trainee was asked to steadily improve with a middle move along the inside and was all the way up into mid-division as they took the run up the hill.
Settled in about fifth position entering the second turn, Bellum Justum was held together in the slipstream of the front-runner in the false straight, and when a gap materialized between the long-time leader and Abrumar (Divisidero) leaving the quarter pole, Bellum Justum went on the attack, pinched a bit of a break and held sway as Carson's Run tried him up the fence. Rothschild (Uncle Mo) rallied to be a longshot third.
The 375,000gns Tattersalls October acquisition made four trips to the races as two, graduating in his final start of the season over a mile at Newmarket in September while defeating Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), winner of this year's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Bellum Justum was on a Derby trajectory to begin his 3-year-old campaign, saluting in the Listed Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom in April, but he failed to land a blow when seventh to City of Troy (Justify) in the big race on the first Saturday in June. Bellum Justum also made an appearance at the Royal meeting, finishing third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes and was a latest tough-luck second to Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Gordon Stakes going 12 furlongs at Goodwood Aug. 1.
That the eventual winner was so far back through the opening exchanges was not by design.
“He absolutely flubbed the start,” Dettori said. “I was way too far back, but lucky Jamie (Spencer on Navy Seal) was so fast. On this track, on the back straight, I was able to make a good improvement to get a slot, because I knew he would stay very well. I had a beautiful slot, no matter the circumstances. I sent him top of the straight to the 2 1/2 (-furlong pole) and I knew he'd gallop to the line. Because he stays a mile and a half.”
Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Bellum Justum becomes the 78th worldwide graded/group winner for the outstanding Sea The Stars. The colt is the lone starter for his dam, a half-sister to nine winners from a dozen to race, including Laaheb (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a Group 3 winner at 12 furlongs on both turf and all-weather; the Group 1-placed Fox Tal (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}); the Group 3-placed Ruwaiyan (Cape Cross {Ire}); and listed-placed Guarantia (GB) (Selkirk). The stakes-winning third dam was responsible for the high-class Warrsan (Ire) (Caerleon), two-time winner of the G1 Coronation Cup and of the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden; MG1SW Luso (GB) (Salse); MGSW/MG1SP Needle Gun (Ire) (Sure Blade); and GSW/MG1SP Cloud Castle (GB) (In the Wings {GB}). The last listed produce from Natural Beauty is a yearling colt by Mehmas (Ire).
Big win for favored #6 BELLUM JUSTUM in the $3,100,000 Nashville Derby Invitational (G3)!
The Irish-bred son of Sea the Stars scored under @FrankieDettori for Andrew Balding. Carson's Run finished second, Rothschild third. pic.twitter.com/Ae5dNB2EL7
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 31, 2024
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