Etienne pounces to claim the Maiden Derby title at Towcester

JAYTEE ETIENNE may have capitalised on the misfortune of others but still produced a tremendous display to land the £10,000 final of the KAB Maiden Derby over 500m at Towcester.

One of three Paul Hennessy-trained finalists, he was nibbled at in the betting from 12-1 into 9-1 and produced his best start of the event which ensured he was in the right place to capitalise when racing room became distinctly scarce on the inner.

Hennessy's Barefoot Awesome had broken well but was unable to hold his pitch as Garfiney Blake and Glorious Tom sped past on either side, while odds-on kennelmate Jaytee Craze, like the winner owned by John Turner and Lee Craze, was moderately away and faced by a wall of rivals going into the turn.

The resultant melee saw Barefoot Awesome knocked over and Jaytee Craze all but, while Jaytee Etienne rode a bump to assert and went on to beat Glorious Tom by three and a half lengths in 29.19sec (normal) with Miami Bullet six lengths plus back in third.

Susan Hennessy, wife of the winning trainer, afterwards reported both Barefoot Awesome and Jaytee Craze fine after their travails.