I don't know, but could it be related to the more widely known golden boy and golden girl, a successful man and woman, respectively? Quotes from the OED, 2nd edition:
1937 C. Odets (title) The *golden boy. Ibid. iii. i. 196 He walks down the street respected—the golden boy!
1964 ‘J. Welcome’ Hard to Handle viii. 91 Poor dear Richard.+ What a change from being the golden boy of English racing.
1965 P. Moyes Johnny under Ground xx. 250 That would have been the end of Beau Guest, the young chevalier, the golden boy.
1971 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. 24/1 Ever since he assumed the ‘golden boy’ mantle, Richards has studiously avoided local opposition.