Cambridge trainer Roni Lauren is no stranger to glory at Alexandra Park.
But lining up a likely favourite in her own colours on a Friday night at the ''Park'' is a different story.
Lauren, formerly of North Otago, raced the multiple group 1-winning trotting mare Allegro Agitato with her husband, Mike, from 2002 to 2007, with the daughter of Sundon collecting 22 wins - five at group 1 level - from 61 starts when prepared by Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson.
Three of those wins came at Alexandra Park, including the 2006 National Trot, but Lauren has visited Alexandra Park just once before in a training role, when Vote For Me, who won at Cambridge last night, ran fourth at Thames' Sunday meeting last month.
Vote For Me is a half-sister to tonight's first starter Bandana, who is bucking the trend of his siblings out of Soky's Atom mare Savanah Blue Jeans.
''None of the family have raced much before they were 4, so for him to look like racing at 2 is a bit different,'' Lauren said.
''He's come along so well and keeps taking the next step up quite nicely, so we thought we might as well put him in a race and see what happens.''
The son of Badlands Hanover qualified at Cambridge last month before three work-outs this month - although do not be confused by his two work-outs on June 15.
''We had him in the maiden, and he broke some gear, so we brought him in and took him back out again with the 1 win-plus horses.''
The chestnut gelding did not disgrace himself against race winners in the second work-out, finishing second to Caribbean Rose and holding out Tyler Maguire (five wins) by a neck.
He followed up with a win at the Cambridge work-outs on June 22, beating Real Faith and two others by five lengths in 2.47.3 for the 2200m mobile.
Sean McCaffrey, who drives Bandana tonight, has been associated with the extended Lauren clan for years, stretching back to his training and part-ownership in Chiola's Lass, the mother of Allegro Agitato.
