Jockey Zac Purton will appeal against his AUD$35,000 fine in Hong Kong

As many would have expected Australian jockey Zac Purton has confirmed that he will appeal the massive $HK300,000 fine handed down to him during the week.

The sum of money is equivalent to over $35,000 Australian dollars, the same as some people’s annual wage.

The fine was imposed for failing to inform stewards that he had been approached by notorious punter Cosma Fung who had repeatedly propositioned him to start a cash for tips betting operation.

He is the same man who became involved with Chris Munce and led them both to be imprisoned for nearly two years.

Stewards said that there was no implication that Purton acted upon these requests, however they say him keeping quiet justifies the fine.

Purton will not be appealing the decision itself, merely the severity of the penalty which he hopes will be drastically reduced.

The ordeal doesn’t seem to be affecting him on-track though as he rode a double at Happy Valley yesterday.

Those wins took him past the 50 mark this season and see him sitting in fourth spot on the Hong Kong jockey premiership table.

While he’s a long way off leader Douglas Whyte on 92 and the second placed Brett Prebble on 71, he is a chance at finishing in third position with Darren Beadman narrowly ahead on 53 wins.

A date is yet to be set for the appeal hearing by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.