While the RAD Board reserved to a date to be fixed its decision on whether stewards had the power to demand Nikolic's mobile phone, the opening address by Paul Holdenson, legal counsel for RVL stewards, provided a telling insight to the core of the stewards' probe.

Holdenson told the RAD Board the inquiry so far had disclosed five aspects that included a personal relationship between Nikolic and professional punter Neville Clements and that the two engaged in regular phone contact.

He noted that between November and January Clements had laid on Betfair eight horses ridden by Nikolic for substantial amounts, which far exceeded his betting patterns.

"Much of that frequent telephone contact is proximate, indeed precedes the time of the races, which Clements has laid horses, eight racehorses, each ridden by Nikolic," Holdenson said.

"Each of which was beaten except one, which was laid for the place and ran a place."

Nikolic's legal counsel Richard Smith described Holdenson's address as inflammatory and unsuccessfully sought to have the remarks suppressed.

"This material smears him in a far more vivid and precise way," Smith said.

Outside the hearing, Smith added: "Danny absolutely denies any wrongdoing in relation to any of the rides the stewards have nominated.

"In respect to each of those rides the stewards have viewed the patrol films with Danny and in the company of each of the trainers and they have not charged Danny with any offence relating to those rides and there is not the slightest suggestion they intend to do so."

Holdenson said the stewards were entitled to exercise their power to gain Nikolic's phone as it related to a "number of meetings where Nikolic has ridden in races where horses have been laid for substantial amounts of money and they have been beaten".

Smith viewed stewards' demand as nothing more than "a huge fishing exercise" and said it was "outrageous" given stewards had not "particularised" why they needed the phone.

Earlier, the RAD Board ruled that stewards did have the jurisdiction to deal with Clements, although he is an unlincensed person.

Tim McHenry, legal counsel for Clements, was granted an extension of seven days for his client to provide his complete and original telephone records from September last year to January.