Kennedy had his reservations about starting some of his runners on the Gore track after a wet week saw it downgraded to a heavy 11 rating, but the trainer's decision to start Secret Sound and Marquita Miss paid off when the two mares scored handy victories yesterday.
Marquita Miss helped Kennedy renew his association with the family of former Southland trainer Peter Smellie, who the trainer used to ride for during his career as a jockey.
Smellie's son, Michael, who shares in the ownership of the 6yr-old, sent the mare south to Kennedy after she had scored one win from his Opaki stable.
Marquita Miss immediately rewarded her owners after her move south by winning in her first start from Kennedy's stable yesterday.
The Postponed mare sprinted along the fence to win in rating 65 grade company over 1200m after being given a pinpoint run by rider Chris Johnson.
Kennedy is hopeful Marquita Miss will be able to add more wins to her record from his stable.
"She is a nice mare; she had run some pretty good races up north in some decent fields.
"I don't think we will see the best of her until after Christmas."
Kennedy produced Secret Sound to win her second start at the races in maiden company over 1200m.
The 4yr-old scored at juicy $10 odds, despite running second to the promising Hazelnut in her only pervious start at Wingatui, earlier this month.
Kennedy is also hopeful there is more to come from Secret Sound.
"She is a nice horse, she fought hard right to the line and I think she can go on with it".
Hazelnut made it back-to-back wins following her Wingatui victory by scoring in rating 65 company over 1335m yesterday.
Western Southland galloper Come Fly With Me turned the Gore meeting's open 1800m event in to a one-act affair when bolting in by nine lengths.
Rider Amless Bohorun had the Stephen Blair-Edie-trained mare in her favoured pacemaking role shortly after the start, and added another front-running win to her 13-win record.
The favourite, Nomen Ludi, held second, with Londonderry Air third.
Carrying the topweight of 60.5kg was not enough to stop veteran sprinter Irish Excuse from winning yesterday's 1200m open handicap.
Rider Corey Campbell, who claimed 2kg off the Ellis Winsloe-trained galloper's back, sat his charge just off a solid speed before he launched Irish Excuse for his run in the straight.
Irish Excuse dug deep under his top weight to beat Timy Tyler and Always On Call in a driving finish.
