Racing Victoria shows concern over Lloyd's feud with TVN

RACING officials confirmed yesterday that there was no onus on owners, trainers or jockeys to speak to the media in the wake of owner Lloyd Williams' instruction to jockey Michael Rodd to refuse an interview with TVN after winning Saturday's Sandown Classic, reports the Melbourne Age.It adds: But, Racing Victoria Ltd is concerned about the incident and CEO Rob Hines will talk this morning with steward Allan Reardon, who was in charge at Betfair Park.Following comments by TVN's Steve Moran after

RACING officials confirmed yesterday that there was no onus on owners, trainers or jockeys to speak to the media in the wake of owner Lloyd Williams' instruction to jockey Michael Rodd to refuse an interview with TVN after winning Saturday's Sandown Classic, reports the Melbourne Age.

It adds: But, Racing Victoria Ltd is concerned about the incident and CEO Rob Hines will talk this morning with steward Allan Reardon, who was in charge at Betfair Park.

Following comments by TVN's Steve Moran after Williams' horse Tintern won the opening race, Williams and his son Nick told Rodd that he was not to speak to the industry TV network if he was successful on Zipping.

Moran had said it was wrong that Williams' new trainer, Robert Hickmott, was prevented from going on TV or speaking to the media after Tintern gave him his first success.

Yesterday, the feud between the owner and TVN continued when Nick Williams appeared on opposition channel Sky Racing.

Williams jnr said that there was no problem with the media and that he personally was upset by Moran's comments and directed Rodd not to speak after the Sandown Classic. ''I just told Michael Rodd that TVN don't want to hear from us,'' he said. ''We do things differently at our stable. It's done under a corporate structure where Lloyd Williams as the chairman speaks for the stable and if he's not available, I do. That's the way it's done. We employ 60 staff at our stable but we maintain a corporate strategy and we have done so all along.

''We do the same with our company, Hudson Conway. If Lloyd Williams is not available to speak then Nick Williams, as his deputy, will make comment, but we certainly don't allow the licensed construction chief to speak on behalf of the firm,'' Williams jnr said.