Smiling Shard is poised to repeat his win of last year in the Kaikoura Cup today.
Smiling Shard won the race last year in 2.58.9 for the 2400m, the fastest time since Bradshaw recorded 2.58.3 in 1998. Il Vicolo is the last dual winner of the Kaikoura Cup in 1995 and '96 when the race was a handicap. It became a free-for-all last year.
Smiling Shard has been runner-up to Auckland Reactor in the New Brighton Cup and second to Terror To Love in the Canterbury Classic in two starts back from a spell.
Highview Tommy, who finished second to Smiling Shard last year, is again among his rivals.
• Mark Dennis ran the fastest time of a Sires' Stakes heat this spring with a 1.56.2 mile rate for 1950m (mobile) at Addington on Saturday night.
Mark Dennis, trained by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, has proved an instant success for Glenelg North (South Australian) owner Paul Nobes. He bought the Bettor's Delight-Twice As Good gelding on October 12 and Mark Dennis won first up at Addington two days later. Mark Dennis had been in the ownership of Mark and Dennis Dunford. Purdon bought Mark Dennis for $100,000 at the 2010 Australasian Classic sale when the colt was offered by Croon Bloodstock, Clevedon.
Mark Dennis is a half-brother to St Barts (14 wins), Waitfornoone (Queen Of Hearts) and Fight Fire With Fire, who won a heat of the Sires' Stakes fillies series.
The Purdon-Payne stable also have Alberto Contador and Hot Shot Lavros in the $200,000 Sires' Stakes Final (1950m) at Addington tomorrow week after second placings in the heats.
Winners of the 2011 series of heats (all mobile):
October 29: Mark Dennis 1.56.2 rate (1950m), Addington.
October 22: Lets Elope 1.59 (2200m), Alexandra Park.
October 21: Texican 1.59 (1950m), Addington.
October 6: Smiling Star 1,56,3 (1700m), Forbury Park.
September 30: Chancellor Cullen I.57 (1950m), Addington.
September 29: Ideal Scott 1.58.2 (one mile), Cambridge.
• Call Of Duty has returned a positive swab after finishing second at Invercargill on September 30, states a release from the Racing Integrity Unit. Call Of Duty is trained by Allan Beck.
