Life In The Fast Lane

May 1st, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

LIFE INTHEFASTLANE is set to give trainer John Yeomans his second Australian Pacing Gold title this Friday night at Harold Park.

The daughter of Life Sign has drawn ideally in barrier three for the $300,000 Two-Year-Old Fillies APG Final over 1760 metres and appears to be the likely leader early.

Australia's best driver, Daryl Douglas, will take the reins once again, making the pair a formidable opponent this Friday.

The filly will take a heat win at the Glebe circuit last Friday night into the event, after she kicked clear of her rivals in the straight to hold Tina Antoinette, which has drawn barrier one this week, by a neck.

Yeomans said he couldn't be happier with his charge this week.

"It's a great draw and certainly gives us a few options from there," he said.

"Considering the fastest horse out of the gate (For Dear Life) has come up with the back line, it gives us a good chance of finding the front.

"My filly has led from barriers five and six in the past so she does have her fair share of gate speed too.

"We are confident going into Friday, however, aren't overly confident as with these types of races anything is likely to happen."

Life Inthefastlane has won four of her five starts with her only defeat coming in the Victorian Sapling Stakes.

Leading in that particular event, she pulled with Jodi Quinlan in the sulky and was only nabbed in the shadows of the post by the winner, Ay Tee Em.

"She should probably be undefeated," Yeomans pointed out.

"That day she raced fiercely and Jodi did her best to hold her, however, the effort took its toll but she battled on tremendously well."

Yeomans won this same Final in 1994 with Etoile.

The Victorian mentor, who is based at Doreen, is no stranger to racing quality horses, having captured various juvenile and Cups events in his career.

A victory this Friday night, however, would arguably be his crowning moment as he and his family also bred Life Inthefastlane, and raced her dam Indigenous.

"It is that little bit extra that makes racing her so special," Yeomans said.

"We have raced some nice horses previously, including Indigenous, but money-wise, this would be my biggest win if she gets it."

Tina Antoinette finished strongly last week and is a chance once again from the pole, while Keppel Bay has placed in five of her six starts but be surprised if she breaks her maiden in the big one.

She has good form around some of these finalists, while last week's impressive heat winner Forever After hasn't been given any favours with the draw and has come up with gate seven.

The Queenslander, for trainer John McCarthy and driver Luke McCarthy, mustn't be underestimated as she defeated the highly-rated For Dear Life, which will commence this race off the back line.

Driver Greg Bennett was quoted as saying the Wayne Honan-trained filly would be better suited racing from behind at this stage of her preparation, so treat her warily on Friday night.