Sport
13 March, 2024
Maxted's Marvel: Bliss with cup win
By CHRIS EARL JARKLIN-OWNED and bred pacer Modern Bliss has pulled off the biggest win of his long racing career. The 12-year-old ducked into the sprint lane in the Tasmanian Cup to win by 1.8 metres. Modern Bliss delivered the first group one race...
By CHRIS EARL
JARKLIN-OWNED and bred pacer Modern Bliss has pulled off the biggest win of his long racing career.
The 12-year-old ducked into the sprint lane in the Tasmanian Cup to win by 1.8 metres.
Modern Bliss delivered the first group one race win for Geelong trainer Ash Wharton and driver Ewa Justice.
Backed at $16 with bookmakers, Modern Bliss avenged a poor start in his cup heat a week before when galloping at the early before a strong third place finish.
“Modern Bliss has been by far the best for duration and return for enjoyment in the game,” said owner Graham Maxted after the win.
“Breeding horses started back with my father and has been a family thing ever since.
“I’ve probably bred 20 horses over the years. Modern Bliss has rewarded us with the best win ever.”
Wharton’s lease of the black gelding who has now amassed $275,734 in stakemoney expires at the end of next season.
But both trainer and owner believe retirement is close.
“We might have to retire now. I wanted to retire him on a good note. He is 12 years old and he has done a great job,” Wharton said.
Maxted said: “When he comes home he will have a good retirement. He will be looked after for the rest of his life.”
Wharton took on Modern Bliss after the horse had been spelled more than four years ago.
“Modern Bliss was broken in for me by Joe Thompson at Charlton and we then sent him to Chris Alford who raced as a three, four and five-year-old,” said Maxted.
“Then he got a bad leg injury and he spent two years in a paddock at our daughter’s property at Romsey.
“I was down there one day and thought he was just getting fat and lazy so we took him back to Chris Alford and after 12 months he started racing but couldn’t get a win.
“That’s when Ash Wharton came on board. Lots of beach work and swimming had him back racing and winning.”
Saturday night’s cup win was the 22nd for Modern Bliss in a career of 88 starts and his second this season, the other coming at Terang just three weeks ago.
Maxted said Modern Bliss has settled into the Hobart training complex a week before the cup heat and had been well prepared for the cup assault.
He paid credit to Wharton and 21-year-old Justice. “It was the drive of a lifetime for her”. And Wharton said: “It was a great drive, and I can’t thank Ewa enough. For a junior driver to drive like that and not panic, she has got a good future.”
Maxted said: “Modern Bliss doesn’t have to tick any more boxes.
“We’ve been lucky. The percentage of those who make it to the track is very low,” he said.
“To have success you need the horse, luck on the night and a good driver. That’s what happened on Saturday night.”