Banned jockey Danny Nikolic says he’s a different man during Racing Victoria ban appeal

DANNY Nikolic admitted to a litany of misdemeanours and an inability to tolerate those who he perceived had done him wrong during his appeal to overturn riding ban.

Danny Nikolic makes his way to VCAT in Melbourne.

DANNY Nikolic admitted to a litany of misdemeanours and an inability to tolerate those in authority who he perceived had done him wrong.

But as he sought to regain the right to ride, the most controversial jockey in Australia said he was a changed man.

On the opening day of his appeal to overturn Racing Victoria’s refusal to relicense him, Nikolic said he had sought professional help to curb his self-confessed hothead behaviour.

“I have been seeing a psychologist and have been able to reassess a lot of things in my life,” the 41-year-old said.

Five days have been set aside for Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal deputy president Heather Lambrick to rule whether Nikolic is a fit and proper person to return to racing.

Nikolic denied offering a bribe to jockey Mark Zahra in the infamous Cranbourne race won by Smoking Aces in 2011.

He said he no idea why Zahra’s father John, in an interview with RV investigator Tim Robinson during the race-fixing probe, said that he and Mark were both petrified of Nikolic.

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Banned jockey Danny Nikolic (centre) arrives at VCAT to try and get his ban overturned. Picture: Ian Currie

Nikolic said he had a good relationship with Zahra and had dinner with him and another group about 12 months ago.

Zahra has been called to give evidence this week to answer whether he felt intimidated by Nikolic.

The tribunal was told of Nikolic’s assaults, including of jockey Mark Pegus, Pegus’s then girlfriend Rikki-Lee Hull, a taxi driver, a run-in with a Paruna Taskforce policeman Julio Salerno and altercation with a park ranger on the top of a Hong Kong mountain.

But the most significant run-in which sparked his four-year absence from the saddle was his clash with Terry Bailey at Seymour races in September, 2012, when he was found guilty of threatening the chief steward.

He received a one-year suspension, on top of a two-year disqualification, for threatening behaviour toward steward Wayne Hadley when appealing against the ban in November that year.

Nikolic admitted to the hearing that he had lied to a Racing Appeals and Disciplinary hearing about what he actually said to Bailey at the foot of the stewards’ tower at Seymour.

The RADB heard that Nikolic told Bailey he was a “f---ing grub.” He said on Monday he actually called Bailey a “f--- king c---.”

Nikolic agreed with Jeff Gleeson, SC, for Racing Victoria, that he rebelled when he thought he was being unfairly treated by those in authority, especially Bailey.

He told the hearing he has sought treatment during the past couple of years from psychologists to help deal with situations where he was “poked”.

Nikolic admitted he had “a bit of a temper when pushed”.

“Everyone has a point where they push back,” he said.

“I think things are better now than they have been through the last four years and I am in a lot better position to be able to handle situations appropriately.”

Gleeson asked Nikolic if his evidence was now that he would not lose his temper, even if he felt he had be provoked.

“No, I am not saying that,” Nikolic said.

“I am saying everyone has a pushing point and if you do get to the point where you do lose your temper, I think things are different for me now than what they have been in the past.”

Nikolic said if he was relicensed, he would base himself in Queensland, where he has already got the support of some trainers.

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Originally published as Banned jockey Danny Nikolic says he’s a different man during Racing Victoria ban appeal