Apprentice Sam Clipperton has been given a vote of confidence by his master Ron Quinton ahead of Monton's Festival Stakes defence.

Clipperton brought up his first stakes win on Monton in the Listed race a year ago but only picked up the ride when senior jockey Chris O'Brien became ill on the day.

This time he is first choice with Quinton saying the youngster has taken his riding to a new level in recent months.

Quinton is also confident Monton, winner of the Festival-Villiers Stakes double in 2011, is in the same vein of form as 12 months ago.

"This horse's best form is in the summer months and Sam Clipperton will be riding him in the Festival," Quinton said.

"It won't be a late pick-up for him this time because he's definitely going to ride him.

"No-one seems to jump over the moon about this kid but he's taken another step, and that's why I'm supporting him.

"He's riding super. He also won the Tatt's Cup on Crafty Irna for me and my owners are supportive of him being on.

"Not only does he deserve it, but he's taken the next step with his riding."

Monton's most recent start was in the Group One Epsom Handicap on October 6 when he finished sixth, just over three lengths behind the winner Fat Al, after jumping from gate 13 in the 15-horse field.

"His run in the Epsom was very good off a very bad barrier," Quinton said.

"Drawing those barriers in Epsoms makes it hard because you've got to waste too much ground going back and he's not good enough to make up all that ground."

Monton built up for his summer campaign with an 800m barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday, finishing fourth behind Whitefriars who won in a slick 46 seconds.

"He had two and a half weeks off after the Epsom and I'm very happy with the way he's coming along," Quinton said.

Clipperton was replaced in the 2011 Villiers by Hugh Bowman, another product of the Quinton stable.

"It's great to get another opportunity on Monton and hopefully we can do the Festival-Villiers double," Clipperton said.

The Festival Stakes (1500m) is the traditional lead-up to Sydney's biggest race of the summer, the Group Two Villiers (1600m) on December 22.