Jasmine battles back to take Gold Gold Jasmine was made to work for her win in the opener at Tipperary this evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Claiming Maiden. Second on her last two starts at Leopardstown and Dundalk, the Ger Lyons trained chestnut was expected to go one place better today, going off the 10/11 favourite (from 11/10 on-course) in the colours of owner Tan Kai Chah. Settled in second by Colin Keane, the daughter of Dragon Pulse got to the front over two furlongs out, but was soon joined and headed by Sevenaday. However, she battled back gamely under pressure inside the final furlong, regaining the lead in the closing stages before going on to score by half a length. The aforementioned Sevenaday (7/1) had to settle for second under Billy Lee for Michael Grassick, while the staying on Chernish (5/1) was a neck back in third. Ger Lyons said afterwards: "She was weighted to win it and was odds-on but it was pure honesty from the filly. "She was headed, put her head down and fought back. She handled the ground and would appreciate Dundalk better, that type of surface. It wasn't her fault I started her around Bellewstown and she has progressed from every run since. "She is a lovely filly and if she is claimed, she is priced to be sold as our people are happy to sell with today's prizemoney and the claiming price and we move on. If she's not claimed we will go for a nursery." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
