JOCKEY Dan Nikolic could face a charge of refusing to comply with a stewards' order for failing to hand over his mobile phone when asked yesterday, reports The Age.It says: Nikolic said Racing Victoria Ltd stewards had asked him for his phone so they could look at his contacts menu, but on legal advice from lawyer Paul O'Sullivan, who was present yesterday with Nikolic at the RVL offices as an observer, he declined.Stewards cautioned him that he could face consequences for not surrendering his p

JOCKEY Dan Nikolic could face a charge of refusing to comply with a stewards' order for failing to hand over his mobile phone when asked yesterday, reports The Age.

It says: Nikolic said Racing Victoria Ltd stewards had asked him for his phone so they could look at his contacts menu, but on legal advice from lawyer Paul O'Sullivan, who was present yesterday with Nikolic at the RVL offices as an observer, he declined.

Stewards cautioned him that he could face consequences for not surrendering his phone. O'Sullivan said Nikolic told stewards he would supply any phone number that related directly to their investigation but was not prepared to allow them to look at his contact list for privacy reasons. Under Australian Rule of Racing 175, stewards have the power to force a licenced person to comply with a stewards' order that is related to their inquiries.

Section (p) of the rule states that stewards may penalise: Any person who fails or refuses to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the stewards or any official. Section (t) relates to: Any person who obstructs or hinders the stewards or other official in the exercise of their powers or duties. Chief steward Terry Bailey was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Nikolic is at the centre of an investigation into a number of his beaten rides in Victoria since last November. He was interviewed again yesterday, along with seven licenced trainers.