Believe it or not, a 2 Year Old became New Zealand's fastest ever male pacer over a mile albeit for only 35 minutes on Jewels Day at Ashburton today. Exceptional Southland-bred youngster Smiling Shard paced a sensational 1:53.45 in the $200,000 Robbies Bar and Bistro Ashburton 2YO Emerald (mile) with final sectionals of 56.50 and 27 (leaders).

The previous fastest by a male was Auckland Reactor's 1:53.5, a mark shared with the mare Scuse Me as a national record.

The outstanding mare Kiwi Ingenuity set a new all-comers' national record of 1:52.15 earlier today when she overcame a wide second row draw in the TV3 4YO Diamond Mobile Pace.

Smiling Shard's male distinction as New Zealand's fastest ever miler was short lived as Tintin In America clocked 1:53.29 in the next and final event the Stallion Station 3YO Emerald Mobile Pace

Smiling Shard, a son of Grinfromeartoear, was driven with the utmost confidence by Whiz Kid Dexter Dunn, obliterated Tribute's national mark of 1:54.9 for a two year old, set in the NZ Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham.

Bred at Shard Farm in Invercargill by Debbie Smith, Smiling Shard has now started 12 times for four wins, four seconds and three thirds and has probably laid undeniable claims to 2 Year Old Pacer of the Year, especially after backing up from his runaway Sires' Stakes win.

Whereas some of his rivals have been showing the signs of a tough season, Smiling Shard has continued to improve, a factor trainer Cran Dalgety attributed in part to a changed training regime since December that centred on the heart muscles to assist post race recovery.

Smiling Shard, along with favoured Kotare Mach, settled well back but skirted his rivals ominously in the middle stages to stalk pacemaker Courage To Rule into line.

Although he tried hard, Courage To Rule could not match the brute strength and stamina of the winner who sat outside him over the closing sectionals and mastered him comfortably.

Smiling Shard's superior stamina first became apparent to Dalgety and Dunn during his fine northern campaign earlier this year.

That stamina has been complemented by sheer speed to make him the complete package of class and precociousness.

Dalgety has frequently referred to the colt's amazing attitude, temperament and will to win that had made him an ideal horse to train.

"You could keep him in the house with you and you wouldn't know he was there,'' he quipped of the close relation to Sly Flyin (27 wins) and Spicey (7 wins).

Like Kiwi Ingenuity, Smiling Shard also belongs to Southland's established Harold's Rest taproot that has long been a force in the land.

It says volumes for any one equine source that it can produce the fastest ever miler and the fastest ever male miler (for 35 minutes) in national history in the one day.

Smiling Shard's landmark success also focuses more attention on his distinguished sire Grinfromeartoear (son of Artsplace) who also sired Interdominion pacing champion Mr Feelgood for Tim Butt and Phil Anderson.

Courtesy of Don WRIGHT