Oaklands Stud sire Ferocity claimed another first-season scalp when Gentle Giant won the Bruce McLachlan Classic at Sunshine Coast on Saturday.  The grey gelding went out at $16 despite a last-start victory at the Caloundra course in June.

Gentle Giant (2g Ferocity – Decent Girl by Centaine) returned to an emotional welcome from trainer Jason McLachlan.  The race was named after his father who died 12 months ago.  And Gentle Giant was named after Big Bruce because of his hulking size and endearing personality.

In a career spanning 40 years, Bruce McLachlan won 16 Brisbane trainers’ premierships and claimed Group 1 races with the likes St Jude, With Me, Al Mansour and Virage De Fortune.  His last win at the elite level was with Phelan Ready in the 2009 Golden Slipper Stakes.

Ferocity sired the Classic winner from NZ bred mare Decent Girl who won 5 races up to a mile.  She was also G3 placed in the G3 Easter Cup at Riccarton.   Her first two foals by Tale Of The Cat failed to make the grade but her third could be a feature winner of the future.

“Gentle Giant was very ordinary early on but I never lost the faith in him,” Jason McLachlan said.  “My mother is one of the part-owners and that makes it an overwhelming experience.”

Ferocity has sired five winners from his first crop so far and Oaklands Stud owner Neville Stewart is confident he can carry on from his own sire Lion Hunter.  One of Danehill’s rare greys, Lion Hunter sired the G1 winning fillies Gold Edition and Lovely Jubly before his death aged just 11 in 2004.  

Ferocity won the 2005 Ascot Vale before it was elevated to G1 level and he will stand for an $11,000 (inc gst) service fee in 2010.