Gary Gardner is out to claim what would be an emotional hometown win in the Griffith Pacers Cup on Saturday night.
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Gardner lines up Untythehood in the feature race.
Untythehood was a fast-finishing second when resuming from a spell in his heat on Tuesday night.
Gardner was pleased with his performance in his first race since July and expects improvement in the $13,000 feature.
"It was a leaders-biased track all night and he was probably one of the best runs of the night seeing he came from so far back," Gardner said.
"I think the cup is a very cup
"It is a very even cup."
Gardner, who was born and bred in Griffith, returned to the city after a stint in Victoria about two years ago.
He's hoping the six-year-old can deliver the goods for co-owner George Duncan, who is nearing the end of his battle with pancreatic cancer.
"I'd love to win the cup for him," Gardner said.
"It really would be good."
Untythehood settled near the rear of the field before closing late to finish 1.5 metres off Caramar Arapaho after overracing early.
Peter McRae will once again take the drive but after drawing barrier nine, Gardner expects they will need plenty of luck.
"It think it is a nice cup field and luck is going to play a big part in the result," he said.
Untythehood will start inside the other of the heat winners, Rusty Crackers, who put in a strong performance without cover to narrowly victory in the significantly faster heat.
Rusty Crackers clocked a mile rate of 2:00.1 while Untythehood's race was won in 2:02.5.
Gardner also lines up last-start winner The Eipperpest in the Collier & Miller Final (1750m).
However after winning his heat on Tuesday, the three-year-old has drawn barrier six.
It was the first time he'd been placed, let alone won in six starts to date however Gardner admitted the wide draw is a big blow to his chances.
"He went quite well in the heat but has drawn the outside of the front and is going to find it difficult from their now," he said.
Gardner also owns Luckie, who will have his first start for David Kennedy.
He won two of his last four starts before having a spell, but has been sent to the Euroley horseman to be able to work with other horses.
"He's very difficult to drive on his own," Gardner said.
"I've got Untythehood to work his with but I've got no one to drive so I sent him over there a couple of weeks ago.
"He's a very nice horse who has a few issues between the ears."
However he too has drawn barrier six.
The barrier draws throughout the night have decreased Gardner's confidence.
"If I had a decent draw I really would have expected to have a nice night," he said.
"But two of them have drawn six and the other one has drawn nine so luck will play a big part."
The first of seven races gets under way at 6.08pm.
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