An extraordinarily quick heat win by Hot Jean has Exford trainer John Barbara dreaming big ahead of Sunday’s Group 3 Healesville Cup (350m).

Hot Jean (Vee Man Vane – Hot Genetics) exploded out of box six to win in 19.02sec, which was 1.5 lengths quicker than the next fastest heat winner, dual Group 1 winner Raw Ability.

“I’ve been training greyhound for 35 years and never had a group winner. I’ve had a lot of handy dogs over the years but no superstars. To win the Healesville Cup would be a huge thrill,” Barbara said after Hot Jean paid $9.90 for the win.

“I’m told she ran close to the first sectional record at Healesville in her heat, and if she can run that again and get to the rail she’ll be very hard to beat. The race will be won in the first 15 metres.”

Hot Jean ran 6.38sec to the first section, which is a length off Banjo Shark’s 6.32sec split record.

Barbara said his star could have upper hand over a number of Healesville Cup contenders given her experience at the track.

“She is a regular at Healesville which gives her an advantage and I run her up my 240m straight at home every second day, so she is used to running in a straight line,” he said.

Hot Jean made it 10 wins from 24 career starts, and the Healesville Cup will be her first appearance in a group final.

Barbara said the main dangers in the Healesville Cup were Raw Ability and Startron, with the latter running down the brilliant Peter Galo to win his heat.

Hot Jean was bred in Altona Green by Malcolm Davis and is owned by Malcolm’s daughter-in-law Sonia Davis.