Serine/threonine-protein kinase that phosphorylates histone H3 at 'Thr-3' (H3T3ph) during mitosis. May act through H3T3ph to both position and modulate activation of AURKB and other components of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) at centromeres to ensure proper chromatid cohesion, metaphase alignment and normal progression through the cell cycle. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11228240, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15681610, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17084365, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20705812, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20929775}. This is the function of HASPIN (histone H3 associated protein kinase, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000177602).