be in pole position

To be ideally positioned for success. The phrase comes from racing, in which the starting position at the inside of the front row (the "pole position") is thought to improve one's chance of winning. She is in pole position to win the scholarship, thanks to all of her extracurricular activities. Barcelona is in fact in pole position after a last-minute victory puts them at the top of the league. It looks like Danielson is in pole position for presidency of the central bank.