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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Matthew Smith points to Tricky Gal’s string of black type placings as proof that Group races aren’t easy to win but he says he couldn’t have the mare going better for Saturday’s Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

The Hot Danish is an anniversary of sorts for Tricky Gal.

When she chased Savatiano home in last year’s edition it was her first placing at stakes level and the six-year-old notched her seventh in the past 12 months when she beat all bar Minhaaj in the Group 3 Nivison a month ago.

“When you get to that level they are really hard to win and there’s a lot of mares like Tricky who will run seconds and thirds and don’t win that Group win,’’ Smith said.

“I’d be pretty dirty when she’s retired if she hasn’t won one. It shows you how hard they are to win.”

Since that first-up placing, Tricky Gal finished midfield in the $2m The Invitation over 1400m two weeks ago and she’ll meet a few of her opposition from that race again.

Alysha Collett rides the mare, $7 with TAB on Thursday, for the third time this preparation and Smith is adamant the horse is at the top of her game right now.

“She’s a good mare, I don’t think she’s ever been going any better. She’s flying at the moment,’’ he said.

Tricky Gal runs seventh in The Invitation at Randwick on October 23

“She was terribly unlucky last start and didn’t get a crack at them. She’s trained on well and if she can get a little luck in running she will be right in the finish.

“If she can get a bit of rain it will be a big plus for her.”

There’s a chance Tricky Gal could back up in next week’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle or Smith may chase another Group race in Melbourne.

In-form mare Undeniable has been a revelation for the Warwick Farm trainer since he took her over a year ago, particularly since she campaigned in Brisbane in the late winter.

The Pataluma Handicap (1100m) will be Undeniable’s 13th start in a preparation that started in April and she’s won three of her last five starts.

“I think the trip to Brisbane was really good for her, it got her out of her comfort zone and she was thriving up there,’’ he said.

“When they are doing well like that you can get a longer preparation out of them. She’s been a different horse since she came back.

"Early on in the prep we hadn’t worked out what was good for her. Once we’ve worked her out she’s got better and better.”

Undeniable, $4.20 with TAB on Thursday, chased home Pandora Blue in a 1200m Midway at Randwick two weeks ago and Smith said that should be good form for Saturday’s assignment.

“She hasn’t missed a beat through this whole preparation, she’s been so solid. She’s working well and she will run well again,’’ he said.

“The 1100m is perfect back to mares grade and she will give a good sight.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting