MAJOR racing inquiries in two States involving the controversial Nikolic brothers have claimed the first victim with John planning to quit training.

John Nikolic, embroiled in a Queensland Racing inquiry, has told Adrian Dunn of the Herald Sun in Melbourne, that attempts to link his brother, Danny, to the northern probe had forced him to get out of the industry.

John Nikolic and jockey John Keating are involved in an inquiry into the run of beaten favorite Baby Bonus at Sunshine Coast in January. “I'm pretty much over this crap,” Nikolic told the Herald Sun.

“I sold my stables the other day and I'll be sending a letter to Queensland Racing on Monday to let them know I'll be relinquishing my license. I was just training as a hobby, racing a few horses with friends.

“When it's no longer enjoyable and I'm getting negative publicity and it's impacting on my family, it's time to get out.”

In his story in the Herald-Sun today, Dunn reports that Racing Victoria Chief Steward Terry Bailey has dropped the bombshell revealing that all 10 rides of Danny Nikolic remain under investigation.

While many thought the far-reaching investigation solely revolved around the charges brought on Friday, Bailey said stewards had not concluded their probe.

Bailey said stewards would this week focus on the charges against Dan Nikolic and former bookmaker Neville Clements, which centre on their refusal to provide certain items to the investigation.

“We'll cross one bridge at a time,” Bailey said.

“The investigation (into the 10 rides) is on-going. Until such time as we get all the evidence ... then we will hand down some decisions.”

As the investigation intensified, the fallout saw:

THE Australian  Jockeys' Association reaffirm its opposition to betting exchanges.

NIKOLIC'S elder brother, John, relinquish his trainer's license in Queensland.

VICTORIA'S first integrity commissioner, Sal Perna, who starts in his new job today, likely to be asked to inquire into several aspects of the investigation.

BAILEY decline to comment on any correlation between phone records and horses being laid to lose on Betfair.

AJA chairman Ross Inglis said the innuendo surrounding John Nikolic and New South Wales jockey John Keating only strengthened the Association's view that betting exchanges had no place in racing.

Inglis said even when a jockey was 100 per cent innocent, the implication of someone laying a horse the jockey rode remained.

“We were opposed from day one and we remain opposed,” Inglis said.

He said the AJA was ‘very annoyed’ that innuendo hovered over Dan Nikolic concerning the 10 rides, given the exhaustive nature of the investigation.

It is believed Perna will be asked to look at all aspects of the Nikolic case, particularly how it found its way into the media.

Bailey said the investigation into Nikolic's rides would continue once Thursday's inquiry - which will be open to the media - concluded.

He said stewards were obliged to ask questions, regardless of who was involved, until they were satisfied they had all the answers.

Bailey declined to comment on whether any trainer was unhappy with any of the 10 Nikolic rides in question.

Nikolic faces a charge of refusing to give stewards his mobile phone and also leaving the area of the jockeys' room at Flemington to phone Clements on New Year's Day.

Clements, who is not a licensed person, must answer a charge of not providing stewards his ‘complete and original phone records’ for a five-month period.

STORY COURTESY OF ADRIAN DUNN AND THE MELBOURNE HERALD SUN