Hilton Sequeira trained dual classic winner Aika Aika Aika who was switched back to a handicap race after a failed attempt in the South India Derby over a mile and half trip, showed her relish for shorter trips when decimating the opposition in the 1400 metres Delhi Race Club Trophy (Div I), a race for horses rated 66 to 90, the feature event of Monday`s races held at Hyderabad. Trevor Patel had a fruitful day, booting home four winners.

Aika Aika Aika was obviously very superior to the opposition having been a winner of a Gr 1 race at Bangalore during the summer season where she had beaten horses which later went on to accomplish greater glory. Aika Aika Aikha had also won the South India 1000 Guineas at Chennai in the Stewards room. As such, the rating of 82 was a steal as the daughter of Win Legend was bound to prove her superiority on the local circuit every time she has an opportunity to run in a handicap race at a comfortable weight. The fact that the filly was coming back in distance could be the reason why there was a generous quote of even money for her success. Ashwa Raftar had the performance in a handicap race along with Sea Castle to be in contention but the fact that they were taking on a classic winner at Bangalore where as their achievements had come against the local opposition itself indicated how hopeless their task was.

Trevor Patel was unhurried in his approach as he settled Aika Aika Aika in about the fifth or sixth position as the speedy Aakash Vani showed the way with Flower Roll Up in close proximity. Sea Castle, Ashwa Raftar and Aika Aika Aika were not far from each other. Rounding the final turn, Sea Castle steadily got the measure of the front-runners and shot ahead with Ashwa Raftar struggling to pick up speed. In the meanwhile, Trevor brought Aika Aika Aika on the wide outside and the favourite covered up the leeway without fuss and stormed clear to record an easy win over Sea Castle. Ashwa Raftar failed to find an extra gear and had to settle for third position. The difference between the winner and the rest was simply clear. One had quality and the others had quantity.

The lower division of the race produced an exciting finish with Anupam Sharma trained Mangalyaan prevailing over Batur in a tight finish. Mangalyaan came into strong contention inside the final furlong with Batur essaying a strong challenge. The duo battled all the way in the final furlong with apprentice jockey B R Kumar managing to keep Mangalyaan ahead at the winning post. Batur missed the berth narrowly despite the presence of Imran Chisty and the scales in his favour.

Trevor also drove out Seven Colours to an exciting win in the 1200 metres Stallion Plate, a race for horses rated 46 to 70. A look at the field and their recent performances indicated that the race was a very open affair, with half a dozen horses having an equal chance to pull it off. The better driving finish of Trevor came in handy as Seven Colours managed a run along the rails and shot ahead with 100 metres left in the race and held on gamely to win. Negress Pearl, Mirfield and Seven Colours were less than a length of the winner, with the margin of victory for Seven Colours being ¼ of a length.

Anupam Sharma`s Dhool Ka Phool was another of Trevor`s winning rides in the 1600 metres Taramati Cup, a race for horses rated 26 to 50. Trevor brought Dhool Ka Pool from way off the pace and the progeny of Royal Gladiator got up in time to get the better of Jem Star in the closing strides of the race to land the spoils as a well-backed runner. Man of the Series headed Sea Change to get the third place.

The 1200 metres Bhagyanagar Novice Handicap Million, a race of three-year-olds has three contestants who had won once or twice during the season. Meritocracy who had two wins to her credit was set to carry the top weight of 62 kgs which was bound to affect her chances notwithstanding the fact that she was the best horse in the fray. In the event, Leo D`Silva trained Tootsie Roll who had the weights in his favour, measured Clarisa in the closing stride of the race to win the race under the driving finish of Trevor. Clarisa who had the first run on her opponents, held on grimly till the bobbing of heads tilted the race in favour of Tootsie Roll. Meritocracy ran on strongly and was ¾ of a length behind the winner.

The well backed Money Time won the 1200 metres Wilkinson Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds in a thrilling finish. Takisha led all the way, enjoying a useful lead over nearest Pursuer Money Time. Bayrd was some lengths adrift of these two runners. In the final furlong, Money Time got momentum and got the better of the front-runner but had to survive the late onslaught of fast-finishing Bayrd who failed to emerge victorious by a neck. The well-bred Mahateji was widely expected to make a winning debut in the lower division of the race and the progeny of Multidimensional ran true to expectations getting the better of front-running Arc of History in the shadow of the post. Desert Moon ran on to finish third.

Sequeira trained Ambitious Approach who made a rather belated debut as a four-year-old had recorded an outstanding win in only the second outing of his life and on the evidence of that win, he looked unbeatable in the 1400 metres Blue Stratos Plate, a race for horses rated 26 to 50. Ambitious Approach was perhaps the shortest priced horse in recent times on the local circuit. Ambitious Approach readily obliged the huge expectations by swamping the opposition in style to win by a widening margin of six lengths over Gorgeous Approach. Raja Hindustani was third.