BENDIGO trainer Allen Browell is confident stable star Hai Lil can return to the winners' list on her home track on Saturday.
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Little has gone right for Hai Lil this campaign, but the smart mare looks well placed in the $110,000 Catanach's Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m).
"Our main aim was to run her at Flemington last Saturday, but when she missed a run a couple of starts ago that put our plans out,'' Browell said.
First start this preparation Hai Lil looked good in running second at Moonee Valley.
However, she was a late scratching at Flemington the following start.
"It was a very hot and humid day and she just overheated,'' Browell said.
"It was just one of those things. She's never done it before, but it was very hot that day.
"She came through it okay."
At Hai Lil's next run at Caulfield she was ridden wide and up on the tempo which is against her normal pattern of racing.
She faded late to run eighth.
Regular jockey Michael Rodd is back in the saddle on Saturday and from barrier 11 Hai Lil is likely to race worse than midfield and be saved for the last crack at the leaders.
That's how Hai Lil has raced best, including one win at Flemington and three at Moonee Valley.
She's won six of her 14 career starts and earned more than $260,000 in stakemoney.
The Bracelet has attracted a classy field, including Group One-placed mare Spirit Song, which will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.
Peter Moody's in-form mare Sino Eagle and the Mick Kent-trained Goldslick will also be hard to beat.
Sino Eagle was rated a $3.80 favourite when markets opened on Wednesday, with Goldslick and Spirit Song on the second line of betting at $5. Hai Lil was rated an $8 chance.
The Bracelet is one of the feature events on Yalumba Golden Mile Raceday.
The meeting has nine strong races, with the first race at 1pm and the final event at 5.40pm.
The $150,000 Yalumba Golden Mile (1600m) has a field of 16, including Group One winners Fat Al and Zabeelionaire.
Our Hand Of Faith and Tigerland are the early favourites for the Mile at $5.50.
The Lloyd Willams-owned import Shikarpour has been kept safe in betting at $6.