The former Wingatui jockey reached 100 career wins and her first stakes success when she stormed to victory aboard Berkeley Square in the $A500,000 ($NZ547,900) Ballarat Cup.
It was a popular win as Kennedy is apprenticed in Ballarat to the horse’s trainer, Dan O’Sullivan, who has been training in the Victorian city for 30 years.
O’Sullivan had never won his home cup, and he was swarmed by local turf identities after his young jockey guided Berkeley Square first past the post.
Kennedy, 23, was not even supposed to be on the horse.
She was a late call-up when jockey Luke Nolen had a fall at Geelong on Thursday.
"Honestly, I can’t believe it," Kennedy told Racing.com.
"Condolences to Luke - he was meant to be aboard today - and I’m just so thankful that I was given the opportunity to get on...
"I’m just so lucky to be in the position that I am ... this horse has taken me on such a journey over the spring."
Kennedy was thrilled to reunite with Berkeley Square, with whom she already had two wins from six starts.
"I just love him. He’s like a big teddy bear."
She had been shedding weight to ride last-start winner Bellinger, only to see him scratched, and needed every ounce of her strength to lift the powerful Berkeley Square late in the Ballarat Cup.
"I had plenty of energy today, and we needed it."
Kennedy did not click until later that the win was her 100th in the saddle.
"I forgot all about that, until I was standing there [in the trophy presentation], and I thought, ‘s..., that was win 100’.
"What a race to do it in. I’m so proud of the horse, and the whole team. Honestly, I’m pretty speechless."
