It has not been that often in the last few years that you would see the harness racing maestro Roy Purdon at Alexandra Park.
Age and wear and tear affects the best of us and the 89 year old has preferred the comfort of his armchair at home as he has followed his sons Mark and Barry winning races from one end of the country to the other.
In the last few weeks however, Roy has been sighted at Alexandra Park more than once and it is all down to the generosity of his son Mark.
Mark outlaid $62,500 at the 2015 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale for a Bettor's Delight colt named More The Better and promptly gifted a half share in the striking looking colt to his father Roy.
Roy decided to bring his longtime friend David Levine into the ownership and the partnership of three has not looked back from that day.
Last night More The Better went into the $100,000 Young Guns Final at Alexandra Park a close second favourite behind his stablemate Pacing Major and once again the two star two year olds fought out the finish.
Mark sent More The Better forward from barrier four to grab an early lead from Pacing Major and that really was the winning of the race.
Allowed to dictate terms in front, Mark got away with a couple of soft quarters during the race including a 29 effort between the 800 metres and the 400 metres before brushing home in a sizzling 26.8 for the last quarter.
Pacing Major made up a wee bit of ground in the last 400 metres on the stablemate but not enough to trouble More The Better in front who still had half a length to spare at the finish with the Paul Court trained Mongolian Hero a further 6 3/4 lengths in third.
More The Better paced the 1700 metres in 2:04.4, a mile rate of 1:57.8 with closing sectionals of 55.8 and 26.8
The win last night took More The Better's two year old record to 3 wins and 3 seconds from 6 starts for stakes totaling $83,385 with a best time to date of 1:53.6
Come the photo after the win last night and there was no sign of Roy.
"Dad and Neil Pilcher are guests of the Club tonight on the top floor."
" I think to get down here for the photo they would have had to make a start before the the last race" Mark quipped.
But that wouldn't have worried Roy in the least who unbelievably was posting his first Group 1 winner as an owner and his longtime friend David Levine, who has been able to share in that thrill with him which has made it all that more special.
The next time More The Better is seen on a racetrack will be in the South Island and it wouldn't be a surprise to see his excited part owners on track to watch him.
Harnesslink Media