BANNED jockey Danny Nikolic has pleaded not guilty to contravening an apprehended violence order taken out by his ex-wife Victoria Samba.

Nikolic, 39, is accused of going to Ms Samba's Bondi home four times in January, February and earlier this month.

The couple, who have a four-year-old daughter together, married in June 2006 but separated in 2010 - a year before Ms Samba's father Les was fatally shot at point-blank range in the Melbourne suburb of Middle Park.

Nikolic, who attended Waverley Court yesterday to enter his plea, was questioned over the murder of Mr Samba, who was a well-known racehorse owner. No one has been charged.

According to records, Nikolic went to his estranged wife's home on January 8 and 9, February 1 and March 5.

Nikolic is also facing assault charges at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

He is accused of assaulting jockey Mark Pegus, Pegus's girlfriend Rikki-Lee Hull and a police officer in three separate incidents last year.

A committal hearing is set for May.

Only last month a civil tribunal upheld Nikolic's two-year ban from racing for allegedly threatening the chairman of Victorian stewards Terry Bailey at a Melbourne racecourse.

STORY SOURCE: SYDNEY TELEGRAPH - NEWS LIMITED