South Dakota scores a battling success at Roscommon Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan were first off the mark as South Dakota narrowly landed the Irish EBF Median Sires Race at Roscommon this evening. A 3/1 shot, he headed Paddy Twomey’s 7/4 favourite Joga Bonita with over a furlong to race, but there was little or nothing between the pair all the way to the line. The Ballydoyle raider prevailed, holding the game Galway Festival maiden winner by just a short-head. Representing O’Brien, Chris Armstrong said: “It looked like a lovely race for him but, at declaration time, it was a competitive field. “He’s been put in at the deep end in a few races. He’s a horse that showed a nice bit of ability at home and that will do his confidence the world of good. “Wayne felt that he has improved a lot with every run, especially mentally. “He’s entered up in plenty of races in the coming weeks and we’ll step him up to stakes company now. “I think he’ll keep progressing over the coming weeks.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
