He’s managed to run in the top three 10 times in his 13 start career and you get the feeling that might be the aim again for All Friared Up in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot this weekend.

Trainer Stan Bates is being very cautious with his assessment of the four year old saying he’s well aware he meets a top field in probably less than perfect circumstances.

All Friared Up will have to overcome a jump in class, an outside barrier and a track where in the past she hasn’t been at her best.

The mare has started five times at Ascot in the past and only recorded a solitary victory there.

In contrast to that she’s been to Belmont on eight occasions for six victories.

No doubt the difference in quality can account for some of those wins but Bates has no doubt the circuit itself does play a roll.

“I’m not 100 percent whether she really enjoys Ascot,” he said.

“We’ll just go back and try and get a horse outside us coming into the corner.”

It’s a strategy Bates has little choice but to employ after coming up with gate 12 in the field.

He says the barrier isn’t a massive deal though and they would probably go back regardless of the alley.

“Its probably a bonus in some respects,” he said.

“We’re not sure whether she’s right up to this class anyway.

“We’ll need to go back and ride for luck.”

He says her track work could also be a bit deceiving in the lead up as he’s purposely let her have an easy time of things to try and keep her as eager as possible.

“She’s a mare that tends to race best fresh, every time she’s won I thought she’s been underdone to be honest,” he said.

While pinpointing the travellers Ortensia and Rarefied as the ones to beat he says in terms of the local horses he’s right in among them.

“They’re all much of a muchness our horses I believe,” he said.

“They’re all good hardy sprinters.”

All Friared Up will be ridden by Jason Whiting in the 2011 Winterbottom Stakes, a rider that’s been with her in every race of her career except on debut.