BALLARAT, RACE 12 BOX 4, 10:48PM

We’re all familiar with the saying, “saving the best for last”.

Exford mentor John Barbara has a few hot prospects tonight at Ballarat, but none hotter than Hot Jean (box four) in the ‘lucky last’ – Race 12 – a Grade Five over 390 metres.

Based on her eye-catching second (beaten a half-length) to Speedy Amira in 22.27sec last week at Ballarat, Hot Jean is The Watchdog’s ‘Best Bet’ on the program. She has notched one win and three seconds from five starts over this track’s short-course trip.

A model of consistency, her overall record reads 49 starts for 18 wins, 12 seconds and six thirds. Interestingly, she has registered four wins, two seconds and two thirds in 11 starts from the ‘blue’ alley.

Barbara also has Fearless (Race 5 Box 8) and Runnin’ Royalty (Race 6 Box 4), a recent finalist in the Group 2 Bendigo Cup, engaged on the fixture. Both speedsters also are The Watchdog’s top picks in their respective events.

Check out Hot Jean’s hot performance (also from box four) last week at Ballarat: