The paddock is the place to be for Queen Kenny.
The Tony Barron-trained mare has thrived since she has been back in her happy place in between training runs.
Despite starting off the 20m back mark, driver Dexter Dunn had Queen Kenny in front after 400m thanks to bad manners from her rivals and Dunn's cunning driving.
From there, the 6yr-old trotted boldly to the line to win by two lengths with plenty to spare.
Barron said her fluent gait in her past five starts could be put down to an improvement in the weather.
"We had such a wet winter that she was inside all the time,'' Barron said.
"Since the weather has dried up a bit, she has been paddock trained, which she really enjoys, so that's the only thing I can put it down to.''
Co-owner Gordon McKenzie had a pacing gelding in mind when he was searching for a horse to buy, but he is more than happy with the investment he and partner Rose Dixon have made with the trotting mare.
They bought the daughter of Monarchy from Phil Williamson's Oamaru stable after her debut for second at Waikouaiti in February last year.
The 6yr-old has compiled six wins and almost $50,000 in stakes in her 28 subsequent starts for McKenzie and Dixon, and gives them a breeding option when her racing career is over.
The matron's paddock is still some way off for Queen Kenny, judging by her top form.
"We'll either go to Winton next Saturday or Addington next Friday,'' Barron said.
"There's an up to 4-win mobile trot, but she's beginning that good, we may just stay close to home.''
McKenzie and Dixon were winners again in the last race on the card when Regal Ideal was far too good in the tightly assessed mobile pace.
They are joined in the ownership by Winsome Dormer, Karen Calder, commentator George Simon and his wife, Maryanne.
Queen Kenny's ability to avoid the breaking horses helped her and it also helped Zena's Star in the 1700m mobile.
She avoided the worst of the backwash when Thinking Smart broke heading to the first bend, and trainer-driver Kirstin Barclay got the best out of the Bettor's Delight filly to win by 1 lengths over Vera Mac.
"She got a wee bit of luck today and avoided the skirmish,'' Barclay said.
"She's actually been racing really well. Her last start [third at Ascot Park last week] was a really good run - she did a heap of work out of the gate and stuck on well.
"She's just taken a wee bit of time to strengthen up but she's never had a good draw either.''
Uncle Ben appreciated returning to the c2 grade so much he is back out of it.
The Mach Three gelding had not won since June, so had dropped back from the c3 to c2 grade for the junior drivers' mobile pace last night.
Brad Williamson did the steering for Branxholme trainer Kirk Larsen, who can now stay close to home with Uncle Ben instead of a trip to Addington next Friday.
"We might go to Winton next week for the centennial meeting there, as a few of the boys [in the ownership] are local,'' Larsen said.
