GOLDEN ARMOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 235, 23 December 1927, Page 6

GOLDEN ARMOUR

FIRST RACE NEXT WEEK THE HAND OF R. J. MASON Golden Armour, the third member of Mr. G. I>. Greenwood's team to race at Ellerslie next week, is worth more than a casual glance. She is a three-year-old filly by Leighton from Sungleam, and has not yet had a race in public. This fact, however, is not likely to prejudice her prospects in Auckland, and bred as she is she can harcfly help proving a good galloper. The Leightons have all proved themselves, and Golden Armour's dam Sungleam is exceptionally well bred, being by Sutala from Boniform’s sister Sunglow, who threw Afterglow and Many Kittle. Golden Armour is engaged in the Queen’s Plate on Boxing Lay, but a more important engagement occurs for her in the Royal Stakes on the ooncluding day of the

meeting, in which maiden three-year-olds can claim a 101 b allowance. WAITING FOR HER Golden Armour’s presence in Auckland is not likely to be overlooked by keen racegoers. Sportsmen of the preceding generation can remember R. J. Mason producing a maiden in the Jackson Stakes at Wanganui in 1906. This was Porcelain, a three-year-old colt by Multiform from Saucer, and, despite the fact that this was his first race, he was sent out by Mason to oppose that great horse, Achilles, then at the top of his form, and ridden by O. Jenkins. L. H. Hewitt was on Porcelain, and for once his active manoeuvring at the post did not bear fruit, for he eventually got very badly off. In the first furlong Achilles put a break on him of five or six lengths, but at the finish Jenkins had to do his level best to hold oft this hitherto unknown maiden performer. That Porcelain’s effort made a big impression, was shown a month later at Christchurch, when they were backed pound for pound in the Challenge Stakes, run over a furlong further. Again Achilles was the winner, but only after a desperate struggle, in which the judge alone could decide which horse had won. Golden Armour may not be a Porcelain, but it is not likely that she has gone to Ellerslie as a forlorn hope. Childsplay was sprung on the racing public from Riccarton this season without any flourish of trumpets, and Golden Armour’s showings at Ellerslie will be lollowed with considerable interest.