A report has backed Racing Victoria stewards and their handling of an exhaustive investigation into betting irregularities allegedly linked to 21 of Danny Nikolic's rides.RVL chief executive Rob Hines said a "detailed report" prepared by Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna was supportive of the governing body and the stewards."It completely exonerates RVL and the action of stewards and the way they behaved through that whole procedure," Hines said."All of his (Perna's) findings are extremely

A report has backed Racing Victoria stewards and their handling of an exhaustive investigation into betting irregularities allegedly linked to 21 of Danny Nikolic's rides.

RVL chief executive Rob Hines said a "detailed report" prepared by Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna was supportive of the governing body and the stewards.

"It completely exonerates RVL and the action of stewards and the way they behaved through that whole procedure," Hines said.

"All of his (Perna's) findings are extremely supportive of the industry position."

Perna made his report after Nikolic complained about various aspects of the six-month investigation which he claimed had adversely affected his reputation.

Stewards probed Nikolic's rides and a possible link to professional punters and betting trends but earlier this year he was cleared of all charges.

Nikolic's manager and father John Nikolic said that he had not seen a copy of the report and did not want to comment.

Hines said RVL accepted the two key recommendations in the report:

* That RVL introduce a policy or process requiring that service of charges on jockeys regarding serious offences be done so with discretion and consideration of suitable time and place and wherever possible not on the same day of riding.

* That RVL introduce a policy or process where an inquiry is conducted into alleged or potential breaches for a serious offence that legal advice be obtained prior to the laying of the charges to ensure independent assessment of the strength of the case.

"They are his (Perna's) only two recommendations and on every other complaint, and there are number of complaints that were made to him, his findings exonerate RVL and the stewards," Hines said.

Stewards, meanwhile, will open an inquiry into Nikolic's general conduct including his behaviour in the stewards room at Flemington Oaks Day.

The stewards last week submitted a report to the Integrity Sub-Committee advising them of Nikolic's conduct before deciding how to proceed.

Tensions between chief steward Terry Bailey and Nikolic have been strained, particularly since the jockey's rides were investigated, but they reached new heights on Oaks Day when Nikolic was fined a $1000 for being in possession of a modified jockey's vest.

Nikolic threw a mobile phone on to a table in the stewards' room, snatched back the alleged modified vest which stewards had earlier confiscated, and called Bailey "a disgrace".