After a horrific race accident in 2016, the former jumps rider was told she would never ride again.
Kennedy proved that advice was off the mark and that she had not lost any of her riding skills with her frontrunning performance aboard Point Proven.
The victory marked the first time Kennedy had ridden in a race since her promising career as a jumps jockey, when based with North Island trainer Kevin Myers, was halted by her accident.
Her victory clearly meant a lot to Kennedy, as she returned to scale with a tear in her eye.
Though she proved she still had the winning touch, Kennedy does not expect to be making her return to the track anything more than a fleeting visit.
"It’s a bit of a one-hit wonder, I guess.
"I shouldn’t be riding.
"At this stage, this is just a one-off sort of thing. It worked in to just go out there and give it a go."
Kennedy urged the best out of Point Proven in a close finish with runner-up Fly Without Wings and Nicola Brown.
The result denied Brown consecutive wins in the annual amateur race at Wingatui, after she won the 2017 edition with Point Proven.
Though she was able to get the best out of her mount and win, Kennedy admitted that some of her polished former riding style might have gone out the window in the last 200m.
"Everything goes out the window and you flop around like a fish, but that is what amateur races are for."
Kennedy made no fuss about what effect the injuries from her accident still had on her, saying "they are what they are".
After her recovery, she moved into the farming industry and now works as a shepherd near Ranfurly.
"My family has always been involved in farming and I go shepherding now. It’s a bit safer."
Point Proven defied logic and showed his versatility by bouncing to the lead in yesterday’s race.
Most horses coming off a North Island steeplechasing campaign and a recent hurdle win would struggle to muster the early pace in a 1600m flat event.
But the Greg Wright-trained galloper showed with his hard-fought victory he was not any ordinary jumper.
