CHIEF COMMANDER took the salute in yesterday’s showcase 1,800-metre Independence Cup on the turf. But it was not at the Queen’s Park Savannah as the president of the Republic used to do for the traditional Independence Day parade. The Chief’s stage was Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

Yesterday’s 47th Independence anniversary was marked with a record breaking performance by the evergreen ’Chief.’

The John O’Brien-trained eight-year-old creole owned by Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited and ridden by Calder-based Wilmer Galviz, won by 1 3/4 lengths from Blackstone Street, Perfect Circle and Champagne on Deck in a good 1:57.13.

He broke the shackles of domination by the importations in this prestigious turf event to become the first horse and only creole to record a treble in the 58th running.

O’Brien said afterwards: ’There are not more accolades left for Chief Commander. He can run on the turf (and) on the main. He is a pleasure to train.

’You need about five Chief Commander(s) in your barn and this makes it a pleasure to come and train’.

The eight-year-old son of Freshly Squeezed/Concordia, sent off as the 2/1 joint favourite, was handily placed on the outside of the field as the grey, Foxette, made the early running with creole Perfect Circle tracking.

Joint favourite Blackstone Street was at the back of the field, with Funky Likeah Train, who walked out of the gates.

There was some tightening around the first turn, with Calder-based Wesley ’Callaloo’ Henry, the rider on Slewsmarstrike forced to snatch up his mount.

As the horses reached the halfway stage, Perfect Circle went ahead, with defending champion Chief Commander cruising into second, while Calder-based Carlos Olivero on Blackstone Street took the shortest, yet most risky route, up the rails. He soon found this out when he was forced to check his mount nearing the 900-metre pole.

Chief Commander on the other hand, had a trouble-free run on the outside, and he gobbled up Perfect Circle as the horses swung into the homestretch leaving the backers of Blackstone Street crying out for their charge, who got a nice let-in on the rails. By this time however, the ’Chief’ already had the race in safe keeping. Blackstone Street ran on gamely to grab second ahead of Perfect Circle.

And the holiday crowd who stayed back to see Bruceontheloose, witnessed a Derby-winning performance from the roan grey Jamaica-bred colt.

’We could give him the money for the Derby and let him go back,’ one punter blurted out after the 1/5 favourite romped home without breaking a sweat.

The three-year-old, trained by O’Brien for Tres Amigos and ridden for the second time by Galviz, won by 8 ½ lengths from Just In Time, Samaan Field, Cash It Back and Fresh Prospect in a fast 1:17.40, which was a shade outside the track record of 1:16.4 held by Sugar Mike.

Successful rider Galviz, who recorded a four-timer on the card starting with Sound Of Thunder, continuing with Chief’s Nephew and Chief Commander and ending with ’Bruce’said: ’He will win the Derby in a canter.’

Trainer O’Brien chipped in with: ’Tremendous horse. Before the race, I said if Chanticleer was in this race he would blow them away, and I think he is a much better horse, and he proved it.’

And Gervain Mouttet, one of the three owners of ’Bruce’ added: ’I must like it. The big one is on September 24.’

Nearing the 600-metre pole, Bruce loomed on the scene as a 1/5 favourite should, and simply put the race to sleep.

The battle was on for the minor positions and although ’Bruce’ won from third favourite Just In Time, the Hi-5 payout was a magnificent $30,205.20.

The crowd that witnessed that performance was reflected in the betting of $268,000, which was more than the amount of money wagered in the feature event, the Independence Cup.

Racing action continues on Saturday with another eight-race card.