Warton rethinking his goals with Modern Bliss

Ash Warton has been forced re assessed his goals with evergreen harness racing pacer Modern Bliss (Modern Art). 

Earlier this week the 11-year-old took out the Decron Horse Care Pace at Horsham after being given the run of the race by promising young reinswoman Ewa Justice. 

Justice slotted Modern Bliss ($3.70) into the one out one back trail before pulling out three wide with 500 metres to travel and the son of Modern Art staved off all challenges to register the 18th win of his career. 

Warton, who took over the pacer’s training three and a half years ago, admits he is about to reset his achievements with Modern Bliss. 

“My goal was to win $100,000 when I got him and I’ve won about $130,000,  now I would like to aim at winning 20 races with him,” Warton said. 

“And now is the time to get it done as struggles during winter but comes good over summer,” he said. 

Warton marvels at the durability of a horse who was having his fifth race track outing in 21 days when he saluted at Horsham. 

“I cop a bit of stick from people about over racing him but if you look at him in the flesh he would pass for a two-year-old and he is often the pick of the horses in the parade ring,” he said. 

Surprisingly,  Warton revealed Modern Bliss does more on track at home than most. 

“I can’t keep the weight off him so he does plenty on the training track otherwise he will blow out- despite all the racing he does he weighs around 500 kilos,” he said. 

“He gets hand fed but he basically lives in a dirt, sand paddock and I wonder if he gets out at night and heads to the local McDonalds.” 

Ewa Justice’s record ln the horse of two wins and two seconds from four drives vindicates Warton’s view that Modern Bliss responds better to the soft hands of a female. 

“I always thought he was a woman’s horse,” he said. 

“Ellen Rixon, Olivia Weidenbach and Annalise Scott have all won on him before and now Ewa really clicks with him too.” 

The other woman in Modern Bliss’ life is Warton’s wife Belinda. 

“Belinda is the one who takes him to the race more often these days and does a lot of the work at home with him,” he said. 

Warton said he has earmarked the 20-year-old Justice for the horse for several months. 

“I noticed Ewa driving at the Geelong trials and I tried to get her two months ago but she had another drive,” he said. 

“Her drive at Horsham was great, she could have gone too early or stayed in and got pocketed but she timed her run to perfection.” 

Warton said he has an aside bucket list item to achieve with Modern Bliss before the retirement paddock beckons. 

“I reckon he has raced at every track in the state bar about three- Swan Hill, Boort and Ouyen,” he said. 

“Let’s see if we can get those three done before he’s finished.” 

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink