Happy because the son of King's Chapel is a horse on the rise, and relieved because he has learned his lesson with the 4yr-old.
Chapel Star went out favourite in the rating 85 1600m at Wingatui yesterday and duly delivered, as jockey Chris Johnson angled his mount into a gap with 250m to go and let him loose. The one-length win over Livana earned owner Lindsay Parr not only $5000 of the $8000 winning stake, but also a $10,000 payout as part of the Thoroughbred Bonus Scheme.
The eighth foal of 1992 New Zealand Oaks winner Staring, Chapel Star was up and running as a 2yr-old and was probably a nose away from leaving these shores.
''If he had won, he would have been sold to Hong Kong,'' Kennedy said.
A stretched-out campaign as a 3yr-old between September 2011 and February 2012 did not quite work for Kennedy or the horse.
''To be honest, I probably stuffed him in the next preparation because I kept him going a lot longer than I should have,'' he said.
''It probably took nine months for him to start to look right and come right.
''He was lucky to go to a spelling place where he was well looked after and he's come back so much better, it isn't funny.''
So much better is a good way to put it. The chestnut gelding won at Wingatui in December fresh-up from his long spell and has won twice more, at Gore and Ascot Park, with a third and fourth scattered among the form line.
Kennedy has a couple of rating 85 miles at Canterbury towards the end of April in mind before he spells Chapel Star.
''I don't want to over-task him because he's going to be a very good horse in the spring.''
Happy family
Paul Richards reckons he has earned the top dog status with his in-laws after Showcase's win in the maiden 2200m at Wingatui - for the time being, at least.
Richards races the Yamanin Vital mare in partnership with his wife, Leanne, and her parents, Garry and Lorraine McDonnell, of Alexandra.
The McDonnells have enjoyed many winning moments with Richards in the past, having owned Random Chance (15 wins, ridden by Paul for part of his career), 2007 Great Western Steeplechase winner Jamie's Chance (six wins) and Last Frisco (six wins).
''I should be the No 1 son-in-law now,'' he said after Showcase won, paying $16.80, by half a neck over Halo May.
Richards sourced the 4yr-old from Ann Tremayne, the mother of jockey Catherine Tremayne, who owns the dam, Mortify.
''She said `if you know anyone who wants to lease it', and at the time the in-laws were wanting another one,'' Richards said.
Showcase had not shown much to attract punters in her four runs this campaign before yesterday.
''She ties up a bit, and she is a work in progress.''
While the McDonnnells often end up racing jumpers, Richards said Showcase's cramping problem would probably rule out that option.
While it took seven starts for Showcase to break maidens, Fiatt finally found his engine at his 19th start, winning the maiden 1200m.
The 5yr-old Occidental Tourist gelding had five second placings to his name before yesterday's well-earned maiden victory.
''He sure earned it, all right. He had four or five seconds, so he certainly deserved one,'' co-trainer Neville Patterson, of Gore, said.
''It's always bad luck and bad draws but he drew the outside today, so it was a pretty good effort.
Fiatt will be put aside to strengthen up.
