The step up to 500m for the first time won’t worry impressive heat winner Get Go Boy in Saturday night’s Horsham To The Meadows Final (525m), according to Toolleen trainer Aaron Debattista.

Debattista is more concerned about clear running from box four than the rise in distance for Get Go Boy, which makes his first appearance in the big smoke after winning nine of his 24 starts at provincial venues.

“I don’t think he’ll have any worries getting the 500 at The Meadows,” Debattista said.

“The 485m at Horsham is a pretty tough run and he ran that out quite well.

“If he gets some room early and gets on in front he’s a pretty hard dog to get past. From memory, I don’t think he’s been run down.”

Two heats of the Horsham To The Meadows series were staged on January 14, with Get Go Boy a dominant all-the-way winner at $1.20 in 27.23s.

WATCH: Go Get Boy win his heat of the Horsham to The Meadows from box three.

The other heat winner was the impeccably bred Aston Lopez, a daughter of Group 1 winners Black Magic Opal and Secret Spell, trained by Rodney Clark, in 27.13s.

“It’s a pretty good field,” said Debattista.

“Bobby Douglas’ dog in the red (Shadow Mist) has run 30.04s at The Meadows and is drawn where it wants to be and Aston Lopez is going well.

“Get Go Boy isn’t a brilliant box dog but when he gets out with them and gets some room to move he musters quickly.

“It will depend on how he gets out from box four. If he gets a bit of luck in the first 20 metres he should be in the mix but I’m not getting too far ahead of myself.

“I’ve got about 20 racing dogs in work and Get Go Boy is probably as good as any of them. I had a pretty good year last year so hopefully it continues this year!”

Photo thanks to Daniel Thorogood.