Robbie Griffiths' phone lit up last Friday night.
As he peered down, the familiar name of Deane Lester appeared on the screen.
The duo had been mates since they were young, knocking around with the likes of Ivan Culliver and Simon Marshall as well.
Lester was in the middle of his biggest battle, one that would eventually take his life.
A rare cancer, diagnosed in only January and which took his life on Thursday night, was making life incredibly tough for Lester as he battled it and a number of other medical problems.
But that didn't change his incredible sense of humour. Even in the toughest times he was still able to make people laugh.
"This text comes through last Friday night, 7:19pm," Griffiths recalled.
"It read: 'Dear Robbie. I'm racing well, but I go much better on bigger tracks. Kind regards, Hard Squeeze'.
"(We'd been racing Hard Squeeze) in Benchmark races for mares and they've been at Moonee Valley. And you like to race mares with mares.
"But her last win was at Sandown. She wins on big tracks.
"That's Deane's wit. He's battled with terrible illnesses, but he has never lost his sense of humour."
Growing up as an only child in Dromana, Lester had always been around horses.
In fact, he was just eight weeks old when he first attended the races.
His parents ran stud farms in Victoria, standing Sydney Triple Crown winner Martello Towers at the Dromana property.
From there the family moved to the Dandenongs, where the farm in Gembrook stood a number of horses including Mornington Cup winner Gay Marquis.
Lester was about three or four years old when he really started to take an interest in horses.
He had a Shetland pony and would watch mares foaling down. He attended the 1972 Cox Plate won by Gunsynd.
Lester was born with Spina Bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly, but he never let it impact his life.
He'd play various sports including footy, golf, tennis and cricket. Many believe he could have made a high level of golf and even with a walking stick played off 16.
But horses were always in the background. From the metro meetings dealing with the world's richest people, to the picnics, Lester couldn't get enough.
As a teen, schoolmates would sometimes laugh at the way he walked, but Lester never let it bother him.
After the separation of his parents, Lester's father started to train racehorses.
He'd go there on a weekend and ride them. He'd watch and learn.
As he got older, his hunger to train horses grew. You'd see Lester shadowing some of the big names of racing.
Angus Armanasco, Colin Alderson and Tommy Hughes were driven mad as Lester peppered them with questions.
That thirst for knowledge would come in handy throughout his career, becoming a sounding board for so many in the industry over the years.
However, the physical complications which came from his conditions meant a career as a trainer was highly unlikely, so Lester looked at other avenues.
He started to do some form comments in the newspaper.
And then, just before his 21st birthday, he got his biggest break.
Lester landed the job of clocking horses at Cranbourne and his desire to work in the media grew.
He worked hard. Attending the track on days when he wasn't meant to be working just to watch and learn.
He sent letters to 3UZ (now RSN927) and on the 11th attempt he was successful.
It turned out to be one of the best employment decisions made.
Lester would go on to become one of the world's best tipsters, with his insight and selections filling the pockets of punters throughout the week.
Didn't do the form? Follow Deano. Need something in the last to get you out? Follow Deano.
His roughie selections heading into the weekend would flip markets, such was his following.
But it wasn't just punters that benefitted from Lester's incredible knowledge. It was trainers and jockeys too.
Such was his knowledge, Lester was regularly called by trainers to help with tactics and placement of their horses.
Griffiths likened him to a human Google search.
"His recall memory was incredible. He had an incredible intellect," Griffiths said.
He was a mentor, manager and idol to a number of jockeys including Marshall, Luke Currie, Nick Hall and Jye McNeil.
One of his biggest triumphs came in the 2020 Melbourne Cup.
Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams was a close friend of Lester's and it was his association with young jockey McNeil that led to his booking for the ride on Twilight Payment.
McNeil had previously reached out to Lester, hoping to work with him in an attempt to solidify his position in the Victorian riding ranks.
Two days before the Melbourne Cup, the plan was made with trainer Joseph O'Brien on how Twilight Payment would be ridden in the race.
It led to one of the boldest front-running rides in Melbourne Cup history, etching McNeil's name in folklore and delivering Williams a seventh victory in the race.
"Very sad day. Deane was a wonderful contributor to the racing industry on so many levels," Williams' son Nick told Racing.com.
"He was a generational talent with his ability to understand all aspects of racing, from the training of the horse, placement, race tactics and the betting markets, a truly remarkable man whose generosity sharing his knowledge was extraordinary.
"A life very well lived but much too short. He will be missed by many."
As an owner, one of his greatest achievements came when The Quarterback won the 2016 Newmarket Handicap, beating the likes of Group 1 stars Black Heart Bart and Chautauqua.
But in the background of all this were Lester's numerous health battles.
His condition meant that from 2002 he was forced to use a mobility scooter to get around.
In 2017, his health took a turn for the worse. A wound at the back of his leg wouldn't heal and after an operation and a stint in ICU, the diagnosis wasn't good.
Doctors told him that he would have to spend all of his time on his side in an attempt to let the wound heal. If he didn't, he would die.
So he spent 16 months letting that wound heal, watching races, doing the form and delivering his expert analysis on TV and radio from his bedroom.
In June last year, he had significant back surgery due to the deteriorating condition of his vertebrae between the T8 and T9.
He also had to have regular dialysis due to kidney failure.
However, the much-loved industry icon was dealt a cruel blow in January this year, when doctors diagnosed him with a rare cancer.
Some of Australia's leading cancer specialists worked on a treatment plan, with Lester having to juggle dialysis with blood transfusions to keep him going.
Two of the constants by his side were his partner of more than three years, Leanne and mother Sandra. They were rocks in Lester's life.
Lester's health deteriorated this week and he passed away late on Thursday night.
"He was in terrible pain. He got very sick very quickly on Saturday evening while he was on his dialysis machine. He had agonising pain in his stomach," Leanne told RSN927.
"Anyone who knows Deane knows how much he hates hospitals. He held out as long as he could but eventually, he got so sick and was in so much pain he couldn't move.
"I said, 'I love you Deane'. And he said, 'I love you too, Leanne'. I had no idea that would be the last time I spoke to him.
"By the time he entered hospital, he basically lost consciousness. It was found he had inflammation of the ilium, which is a section of the small intestine.
"As big as his heart was, and we all know how big it was, he couldn't fight any longer."
Leanne whispered to Deane that it was okay and that he could go.
But Lester fought on, waiting for mate Gerry Ryan to arrive.
The pair had struck up a close bond, with Ryan seen as almost like a second father to Lester.
The Emerald was always a favourite drinking hole for Lester and the pair would always chat about horses and, of course, the St Kilda Football Club.
The Saints were always a passion of Lester's and the club, along with movies, TV and music, were his key interests off track.
"We shared a bond," Ryan told RSN927.
"He encouraged me to expand my equine enterprise. He's been a great advisor to me. We've enjoyed St Kilda and the Storm.
"He could have been a champion golfer had he not had the medical issues he had. But he never backed down.
"He was a genius at it (racing analysis). He was always prepared to pass on information to those who would seek it.
"When Americain won the Melbourne Cup, the first person I went to was Deano. It was very special."
Lester passed once Ryan was in the room. Two mates together just one more time.
Fleetwood Mac's Songbird was playing in the background. It was a song that Leanne and Lester shared a special love for.
Halfway though the song, Lester stopped breathing.
"For you, there'll be no more crying,
For you, the sun will be shining,
And I feel that when I'm with you,
It's alright, I know it's right," the song begins with.
Lester was no longer in pain. He left a massive legacy in the racing industry as a whole.
"He had an open heart for everyone. He was so giving of his time. He talked to people, he didn't talk down to them. I'm so proud of him and all that he achieved," Leanne said.
Ryan added: "He has left a mark in racing and in fact all of his friends. He was always up for a chat, it didn't matter who you were. We've lost a great man."
Griffiths said: "What makes Deane the man? His selfless, big-hearted nature. His ability beyond his disability made him so special. Live is never going to be the same."
Deane Lester. One of the world's best form analysts. One of the world's best people. Vale.