Lightly raced Go Public ready for Valley

Danny O’Brien believes lightly raced colt Go Public has improved since his maiden victory in the bush and is capable of taking another step up at Moonee Valley.

Go Public broke his maiden at his third start at Echuca recently and runs in Saturday’s Art Series Hotel Group Handicap (1200m).

“He’s the first foal out of a mare a friend of mine and I raced called Placement,” O’Brien said.

“She was a really good filly for us and we kept him to race. He’s always shown good ability.

“He won a maiden softly the other day and it’s always a big step for them from a maiden to a Saturday three-year-old race, but he’s certainly shown us enough that he’ll be more than competitive.”

Placement won five of her 38 starts and during her three-year-old season in 2010/11 she finished second in the Wakeful Stakes and third in the Group One VRC Oaks.

O’Brien took Go Public to Moonee Valley on Tuesday to familiarise him with the circuit and was impressed by his gallop in company with one of the veterans of the stable, eight-year-old The New Boy.

“He worked really well and it looks like he’s improved out of Echuca,” O’Brien said.

“Hopefully he can be in the finish on Saturday.”

The New Boy kicks off his summer campaign in a 1200m benchmark 84 handicap with O’Brien expecting him to be better suited when he gets to 1400m races at Flemington.

Bullpit has contested Listed races at his past two starts and runs in the Montmorency FC Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.