FORMER high-profile Gold Coast bookmaker has emerged as an important figure in the long-running investigation into a number of jockey Dan Nikolic's beaten rides, reports Andrew Eddy in The Age.His report adds: It is understood that Racing Victoria Ltd's integrity department is examining the connection between the former bookmaker and professional punter Neville Clements, who was last week warned off racecourses for failing to comply with an order to hand over his phone records to stewards.Chief

FORMER high-profile Gold Coast bookmaker has emerged as an important figure in the long-running investigation into a number of jockey Dan Nikolic's beaten rides, reports Andrew Eddy in The Age.

His report adds: It is understood that Racing Victoria Ltd's integrity department is examining the connection between the former bookmaker and professional punter Neville Clements, who was last week warned off racecourses for failing to comply with an order to hand over his phone records to stewards.

Chief steward Terry Bailey would not comment on the latest revelation yesterday, but it is believed that stewards are investigating whether the former bookmaker laid the same eight horses ridden by Nikolic that stewards found that Clements had laid to lose with betting exchange Betfair. It is expected that stewards will also attempt to examine the betting history of some of the former bookmaker's family members.

It is believed that Clements has a long relationship with the Gold Coast bookmaker-turned-punter and that the pair were in frequent contact, either directly or through a third party.

The revelation of the Gold Coast link to the inquiry follows the news that Victoria Police have also begun investigations into 10 of Nikolic's rides that are under review by stewards.

It also came to light this week that, despite earlier reports to the contrary, at least two of the seven trainers interviewed by stewards into Nikolic's handling of their beaten horses were not satisfied with the manner in which their horses were ridden.

Also, the initial phone records supplied by Nikolic to stewards were incomplete but RVL stewards have since obtained a full list of calls made from Nikolic's mobile phone.