Racing: RAD to hear Nikolic case

MELBOURNE - One of two charges laid by Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) stewards against Danny Nikolic will be heard by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board tomorrow, after a request by the jockey's lawyer.

The RVL Board decided to exercise its discretionary power for the charge to be heard by the RAD Board. The charge relates to Nikolic failing to comply with a direction from stewards to produce his mobile phone so they could inspect his contacts list

That and the second charge - that on January 1 Nikolic used his mobile phone at Flemington races to contact professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements without the stewards' permission - were both to be heard by stewards today.

Legal debate is split over whether stewards have the jurisdiction to demand a licensed person hand over a personal item such as a mobilephone.

Stewards have decided to defer the hearing of the second charge to a date to be fixed.

It was also determined that a related charge against Clements also be heard by the RAD Board tomorrow, instead of by stewards today.

- AAP