The Graeme Anderson-trained pacer faces his biggest test of the season so far when he lines up beside champion pacer Lazarus in today's 2400m group 2 event.
A win over the reigning New Zealand Cup champion would not only be a boost for his own chances but throw some life into a flat New Zealand Cup market.
But for Graeme Anderson, it would not matter if it were Lazarus or any other horse lining up next to his pacer, because he only has eyes for his own horse.
It's a policy that has worked for the trainer ahead of Titan Banner's crushing win over Dream About Me in this month's Methven Cup, which he added to his Maurice Holmes Vase and Hannon Memorial wins, so there is no sense in changing ahead of his horse's clash with the cup favourite.
``I am only concentrating on my own horse,'' he said.
What Anderson does know is that Titan Banner has come through his Methven Cup win in tremendous order.
``He has come through the race very well and his work last week was excellent.''
Lazarus comes into today's race on the back of running scintillating sectionals to win the Ashburton Flying Stakes a week ago.
The reigning New Zealand Cup champion came out of the one-one on race splits of 53.7sec (800m) and 26.2sec (400m) to reel in his stablemate Dream About Me.
So brilliant was the win, Lazarus has been rated a $1.15 favourite to win again today.
That 15% margin on punters' money, rather than a rate of return closer to 5%, could reflect the tricky intricacies the Kaikoura track has thrown at a long list of top pacers over the years.
Quite simply, the flat surface could offer the best chance for the freakish Lazarus to be beaten.
That gives Titan Banner an ideal opportunity to win the race: his quick standing-start manners and rock-hard race fitness may prove too much for the Lazarus to catch.
Though what does not help Titan Banner is today's tiny seven-horse field. Even if Lazarus makes the slowest of beginnings, it would mean the favourite should only be a maximum of four lengths off the leader at the top of the straight.
That would probably be enough striking distance, even with Kaikoura's flat bends, to see Lazarus reel off more sizzling sectionals to win.
Titan Banner's driver, Dexter Dunn, drives the favourite, Bordeaux, in today's group 3 South Bay Trotter's Cup.
The Philip Iggo-trained trotter showed his Dominion tilt was on track with a returning win in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington earlier this month.
The horse gets an ideal opportunity to further his Dominion claims today, especially with the South's form trotter, Great Things Happen, not lining up.
Bordeaux instead clashes with Paul Nairn's duo, The Foot Tapper and Ronald J, as well as Destiny Jones.
