Double Rush (Blue Point), former Charles Hills trainee who annexed a brace of six-furlong handicaps in his first two starts for Andrew Balding at Newmarket in April and May, chased the leaders from a midfield berth in the centre of the track through the early fractions of this Wokingham Handicap. Angled into an open lane approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 5-1 chance quickened to the fore entering the final furlong and was driven out to hold the late charge of Completely Random (Havana Grey) by a head.
“Double Rush is a high-class horse who deserves to move out of handicaps now,” said Balding. “In fairness, Charlie Hills was the first to congratulate me and he was devastated when the horse came to us because he really rated him. He was right and has obviously been a big part of his development, so I am grateful to him. He is extremely sporting. He is an exciting horse and Shane [Foley] gave him a peach of a ride. He has got the class to travel and it is not easy to win these big handicaps with high weights. We ended up in the middle, which seemed a little unusual today, but I like to think wherever he was drawn, he would have taken a lot of beating.”
“I think Royal Ascot is important, whatever race you run in, but we felt that if he was not going to win the Wokingham, he was not going to win a Group 1. We know he likes Newmarket, so there is every chance he will go to the [Gr.1] July Cup.”
Foley added, “Double Rush is so straightforward and you can make the pace on him or follow with him. I actually think he will be better in better races when there is something to lead him and a stronger pace, because we did not go overly fast for a competitive handicap today and he cruised into it. He had a good look around when he hit the front, but thankfully the line came in time. My lad made the running at Newmarket, but this is a different type of track and I did not want to be facing a headwind either. I was keen to get cover for as long as I could, but we ended up in a good spot, although I would have liked a lead for a bit longer. When they go forward like that, it is hard to keep sitting. I had a willing partner. We ran him back quite quickly at Newmarket and he was probably not quite as effective and did not feel as good. He has had a good freshen up since then, but Kingsclere know what to do and will give him his time. I am looking forward to stepping up into Group company. He is an exciting horse and he is going to improve and improve again. With sprinters, when they start getting better like that, who knows where they can stop?”
Double Rush is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers out of a full-sister to Gr.3 Prix Penelope victrix Humouresque (Pivotal) and multiple Group-placed sire Mighty (Pivotal).
His dam Duet (Pivotal) is also kin to the multiple Group-winning Danehurst (Danehill) and Gr.3 Generous Stakes runner-up Rising Legend (Rock Of Gibraltar).
The winner is half to an unnamed three-year-old colt by Lucky Vega.
Written for Thoroughbred Daily News
