Straight Shorts is a rolling news update service on the biggest stories in racing, wagering and breeding. RQ CEO Jason Scott confirms he has handed the reins to Lachlan Murray on a temporary basis, the latest from the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, stewards rule out a Blue Diamond contender and a new boss for Greyhound Racing NSW.

Jason Scott
RQ CEO Jason Scott has been seconded to help launch Queensland's new greyhound racing venue. (Photo: Racing Queensland)

Lachlan Murray steps in as interim Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott is seconded to greyhound role

Outgoing Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott will temporarily step away from his duties to take over control of Queensland Greyhound Racing Club in lead up to the new venue ‘The Q', opening in May.

Scott revealed to SEN Track that the project was behind schedule and required his guidance. Peter Gleeson had left the club as CEO this week.

“I’m going to be seconded for the next three months over to the greyhounds. We are a little bit behind on where we need to be on the greyhound facility, with the three tracks,” he said.

“We are a little bit concerned, both the club and Racing Queensland, so we decided the best thing we can do is I’ll go in there and manage it for the next three months”

Scott, who gave his six months’ notice of his departure from his Racing Queensland role last month, revealed Lachlan Murray, currently CFO, will be interim CEO in the meantime.

“I envisage it will take me three months to have this sorted hopefully and then I will step back in,” Scott said.

Scott said he would still be advising Murray, while focussing his own energy on the challenges of launching The Q.

Dale Cartwright, who has served as a code director on the RQ Board for the past nine years, will also assist Scott as a special advisor.

RQ Chair Steve Wilson said the support package demonstrated its commitment to the Queensland greyhound industry.

“The Q is a game changer for the Queensland greyhound industry,” Wilson said.

“We firmly believe it will be the best greyhound facility in the world, and with the project nearing its completion, there are a number of critical milestones that are fast approaching and Jason is best served to help deliver them from here.

“He will be strongly supported by Dale and the broader RQ team so we can commence trialling on all three tracks before our attentions turn to the first race meeting at the venue."

$185,000 late call pays off for Dickson

Summer Dickson was resigned to missing out on her “horse of the sale” as bidding climbed into six figures, double what she thought the colt by Maschino would go for, but then her new client told her to press the go button.

With that, trainer Dickson made her one and only bid for Lot 350, the last yearling offered at this year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, at $185,000 to reward her patience and knock out her competition, principally trainers Grant and Alana Williams.

The Book 2 session’s highest-priced yearling - Book 1 was a $450,000 colt by champion sire Playing God - is the first foal out of four-time winner Burning Magic and sold by Ruby Racing and Breeding, the breeders of Tiger Of Malay, for Jason Cheetham.

A $185,000 Maschino colt topped the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale Book 2 session (Photo: Magic Millions/Western Racepix)

It was good fortune for Magic Millions and Ruby Racing and Breeding’s O’Bree family, with the colt initially not selected by the auction house for the sale until another inspection last year swayed opinion.

“I was on the phone to a very new client of the stable and he asked me multiple times, ‘do you really like it?’ And I said, ‘I'm telling you, it's the only horse I wanted in the sale’,” Dickson said. 

“So, we came to the sales on Wednesday and had a good look at the horse and we got him out multiple times and I really like the horse, I had a good feeling about him.”

The Williamses didn’t miss out altogether in Book 2, buying the second and third most-expensive yearlings of the day, a filly by Maschino for $170,000 and a colt by Admire Mars for $150,000.

Turnover for the two day sale reached $18.56 million for the two days, down $2 million year-on-year, with the Book 2 session declining by $1 million, but Magic Millions WA manager David Houston was pleased with how the sale played out.

“Under the circumstances, we're down near enough to a couple of million dollars overall, but we've been setting records here for the last three or four years,” Houston said.

“So, if we can sort of hold our own, which I think we have this sale, then, it's got to be (deemed to be a) good sale, I think.”

Earlier, a colt by Arrowfield shuttler Admire Mars out of the unraced mare Hidden sells for $150,000 early in Book 2 of the Magic Millions Perth sale.

Bred by G & G Bloodstock Australia Pty Ltd, Ross Price and Alana Williams, the colt was purchased by agent Suman Hedge. A colt by Playing God has also changed hands today, selling to Dan Morton for $140,000.

Final Stats from Magic Millions Perth


Book 2
Lots Catalogued: 160 (160)
Lots Sold: 121 (123)
Lots Passed In: 34 (24)
Lots Withdrawn: 5 (13)
Sale Gross: $4,849,500 ($5,825,500)
Top Price: $185,000 ($250,000)
Average Price: $40,079 ($47,362)
Median Price: $30,000 ($35,000)
Sold %: 78 (84)

Combined Books 1 and 2 statistics
Lots Catalogued: 350 (352)
Lots Sold: 278 (273)
Lots Passed In: 54 (54)
Lots Withdrawn: 18 (25)
Sale Gross: $18,536,000 ($20,365,000)
Top Price: $450,000 ($625,000)
Average Price: $66,676 ($74,597)
Median Prince: $50,000 ($55,000)
Sold %: 84 (83)
*2024 in brackets

Blue Diamond favourite cleared but Icarian Dream ruled out

Blue Diamond favourite Field Of Play has been cleared to take his place in Saturday’s feature, but the Ciaron Maher trained Icarian Dream has been ruled out.

Icarian Dream failed a vet inspection on Friday morning, while Field Of Play and Cherish Me were cleared to run.  

“Icarian Dream did not show the necessary improvement when reinspected and will be withdrawn on vets advice by the Stewards,” RV stewards said,

The Jason Warren-trained Palm Angel will face a race-morning inspection to determine whether she takes her place in the field.

Durrant to downsize stable through Inglis Digital

Western Australian trainer Adam Durrant will downsize his racing and breeding operation by selling almost 50 horses unreserved at the Inglis Digital February (Late) Online Sale.

Godolphin will also offer 10 race horses, including Group 3 winner Amur and the progressive Ceasar Cipher and Brighella, as part of the packed 546-lot Inglis Digital offering.

Group 1-winning trainer Durrant is selling 49 horses as part of the Karnup-based stable’s reduction, with an emphasis on parting with his breeding portfolio which features several three-in-one packages as well as a number of lightly raced three-year-olds.

Last season’s Golden Gift winner Shangri La Express has also been entered for the sale on behalf of his owners by trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott while Group 2 Reisling Stakes winner Seven Veils, who is in foal to Darley’s first season shuttler Native Trail, is a high-profile entry in the broodmare section.

The final countdown of bidding for the Digital sale starts at 10am on Wednesday February 26.

RV to trial weight changes

Racing Victoria will use the month of March to trial a change in the law regarding approvals for riders to compete one kilogram overweight.

The RV board has approved the change which will see a one-month exemption to the local rule which governs over weight allowances.

“Throughout March, if a rider, at any weight, is to be one kilogram overweight, permission can be obtained from the Stewards, who may grant approval if the nominator or trainer agrees,” a RV statement said.

The exemption is designed to allow riders to maintain their association with horses which they might otherwise be removed from due to weight restrictions.

Griffin confirmed as new Greyhound Racing NSW CEO

Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has confirmed that Steve Griffin will begin as CEO from March 3.

Griffin has spent four years at the helm of the Greyhound, Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC).

"Mr Griffin was the outstanding candidate from a strong pool of contenders, and he has the experience, animal welfare oversight and understanding of the greyhound racing industry to ensure its long-term viability and growth," GRNSW Chairman Adam Casselden said.

"His appointment balances the needs and aspirations of industry participants with community expectations around animal welfare."

Former CEO Rob Macaulay left the job in July. 

shorts