New Zealand harness racing driver Mark Purdon is reported to have appealed against both the charge and six-week suspension imposed on him by Queensland officials

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Purdon is furious over the suspension, which is set to rob him of the chance to drive pacer Auckland Reactor in the $A1 million ($NZ1.26 million) Interdominion final on March 28.

Sydney radio station 2KY today reported he had lodged an appeal this morning.

If a hearing could not be arranged this week there was a chance he might be able to drive Auckland Reactor in the second round of the Interdominion heats on Queensland's Gold Coast on Saturday.

Earlier, Purdon said the six-week penalty imposed for his drive behind favourite Auckland Reactor in a heat of the Interdominions last Saturday was "way too harsh".

Purdon was suspended until April 30 after being found guilty last night of not giving the champion pacer all reasonable chances to win the heat, in which he finished second to Karloo Mick.

It was just the second defeat from 22 starts for the Purdon-trained, American-owned pacer, whose value is estimated at $10 million.

Following the two-hour hearing Purdon was fuming.

"That would never happen in New Zealand," he said.

"The penalty... is out of proportion with what happened out there," he told the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

Owners' representative John Curtin was adamant the Auckland Reactor camp would appeal.

Should Purdon be prevented from driving Auckland Reactor on Saturday, his seat would almost certainly be taken by his brother-in-law Tony Herlihy.

Chairman of stewards Martin Knibbs said Purdon was charged under rule 149.1, which states: "a driver shall take all reasonable and permissible measures. . .to ensure that the horse is given full opportunity to win, or obtain the best possible placing in the field".

Knibbs said stewards were concerned with two aspects of Purdon's drive.

After he was held up for a run, Auckland Reactor charged home to run second.

Purdon settled the horse in the running line at the 1200m behind the Anthony Butt-driven Report For Duty, but failed to shift out and improve when he had the opportunity.

That saw Auckland Reactor pocketed until about the 900m mark.

Auckland Reactor was then stuck behind unfancied NZ pacer Zenad in the three-wide line. Purdon did not shift out four-wide to improve until about the 500m mark.

"It was a very difficult decision, but when you're driving an odds-on favourite, people are entitled to see that drivers are 100 per cent on their game," Knibbs said.

"It's unacceptable in a high-profile series such as this."

Purdon admitted at the initial hearing on Saturday he'd made an error of judgment.

Stewards also watched videos of Auckland Reactor's wins in New Zealand in reaching their verdict.

The controversy hasn't deterred punters.

Auckland Reactor was a $1.20 favourite yesterday with Australia's TAB Sportsbet to win his next heat (2100m) on Saturday (midnight NZT), when he will start from barrier two on the second row.

His toughest competition was expected to come from local I Am Sam ($5.50) who won on opening night and drew directly outside Auckland Reactor in barrier 10.

Auckland Reactor remained favourite to win the final at $2.20, ahead of star Queenslander Blacks A Fake at $2.90.

Two New Zealand-trained runners were next in the market, Mr Feelgood at $7.50 and Changeover at $8.

(NZPA)

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