Danny Nikolic was fined $300 for misconduct in the aftermath of his ride on Trustus in the Winter Championship Final but stewards found no fault with his ride.Nikolic said he was an "easy target" after last month being cleared by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board of two charges of engaging in improper practice and two of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing after an exhaustive inquiry into 21 of his rides.The Trustus inquiry was opened on race day following a complaint by Brian Joh

Danny Nikolic was fined $300 for misconduct in the aftermath of his ride on Trustus in the Winter Championship Final but stewards found no fault with his ride.

Nikolic said he was an "easy target" after last month being cleared by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board of two charges of engaging in improper practice and two of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing after an exhaustive inquiry into 21 of his rides.

The Trustus inquiry was opened on race day following a complaint by Brian Johnston, who co-trains the horse with his wife Fran Houlahan, regarding the riding tactics adopted by Nikolic on the gelding which finished 10th behind Doubtful Jack in the Listed 1600m event.

The inquiry was adjourned on the day following a dispute between Johnston and Nikolic in the stewards room following the race.

After hearing further evidence from Johnston and Nikolic on Monday, stewards accepted the explanation offered by Nikolic regarding his tactics and noted that there were no unusual betting trends on the race.

No action was taken against Johnston regarding his behaviour in the stewards' room but panel chairman Allan Reardon warned him his comments were of a provocative nature and reminded him of his obligations as a licensed trainer.

Nikolic pleaded guilty to a charge of having made inappropriate comments towards Johnston at the initial inquiry and had already submitted a letter of apology to stewards regarding his behaviour.

Nikolic is currently serving a careless riding suspension incurred on Saturday, coinciding with his stated intention to take a break ahead of the spring.

Meanwhile the RAD Board will hear the charges laid by Racing Victoria Limited stewards against professional punters Alessandro Alaimo and Kevin McFarland next Monday.

Alaimo and McFarland have both been charged with failing to attend the Danny Nikolic inquiry on April 20 when requested to do so by the stewards.

Alaimo and McFarland laid Nikolic's mount Finishing Card substantially on Betfair when he ran second as an odds-on favourite at Mornington on January 8.

They also laid Baby Boom, then trained by Nikolic's brother John but not ridden by Nikolic, when she ran fourth as odds-on favourite at the Sunshine Coast on January 3.

Alaimo and McFarland and professional punter and commission agent Neville Clements, a friend of Nikolic's, have all been warned off Queensland racetracks following the Baby Boom inquiry in Queensland.