IPOH,  30 November 2007

Ipoh based Trainer Johnny Geoffrey Nikolic will be relinquishing his MRA licence on Dec 31, ending a six-year stint in Malaysia.

Brother of top Australian jockey Danny Nijkolic, Johnny saddled five winners in his maiden season in 2002 and improved to saddle 15 winners the next season.

His best season, however, came last year when he sent out 16 winners and so far this season has saddled 13 winners. MRA records show that he has currently 18 horses in his stable.

Johnny Nikolic was in the news earlier this year when he was fined a hefty RM30,000 after various items were seized from his stable in February at the Perak Turf Club.

During a routine stable inspection conducted by the Stipendiary Stewards within his stable complex, a member of his staff, Syce Michael Yeoh Thaim Choy had, in his possession, various substances namely Dexamethasone and Salicylic Acid which are prohibited substances under MRA Rules of Racing.

Nikolic pleaded guilty to a charge inder MRA Rule 33(2) as read with MRA Regulation 41.1.