GP gets wins for Armour

Bruce Stewart Journalist

“We mainly bought her as a galloping pacemaker. She’s doing a great job with the babies and earning her keep,” winning trainer Shannon Armour said after Searing Light (He’s Watching) won at Ascot Park today.

The mare began her racing career with Alan Edge in April 2021 and won two races for the Weedons trainer. Then Ascot Park trainer Matt Saunders took her on when he renewed his trainers licence. She had twenty one starts for Saunders for a second and six thirds and then was bought by Armour.

In today’s R35-R45 race, driver Craig Ferguson took Searing Light straight to the lead and she hung on to beat favourite Mr Cash Man by half a length with Itsallaboutthemoney a head back in third.

“We thought she’d go close enough. She’s been working well.”

Today’s win was her third in eighty one starts.

The Chop A Nick Syndicate who successfully raced Nyla and Ivana Legacy out of Armour’s stable are part of the ownership group.

“They’ve been real loyal owners. It’s nice to chuck them into another one.”

Shannon will now turn her attention to Diamonds Day on Sunday when she’ll gear up her first Group One starter The Sweetest Catch, (Sweet Lou) in the Diamond Creek Farm/SBSR Two Year Old Classic.

“We like him but you can’t knock the Canterbury ones - they’re well schooled.”

At his first start the two year old looked to be running into third, but broke.

“He just jumped out of his gear. We’ve just made a couple of wee changes to his gear on the driver’s advice. If he had paced all the way it would have been nice to see where he stood against those two (Roger That and Patriot). I think he’ll be a better horse next year because he is big.”

Armour attends most Southern Harness meetings as Clerk of the Course, where she rides Group One New Zealand Cup winner The Fixer.