Ron Quinton is convinced Monton still has much to offer as the veteran warhorse chases two milestones in Saturday’s $175,000 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.

If Monton can become the first horse to win the Villiers for a second time, the eight-year-old will also edge past $1 million stakes.

It will be a fitting reward for the horse and Sam Clipperton, the young jockey who rides him.

Clipperton rode his first stakes winner when Monton claimed the 2011 Festival Stakes and he has formed a special bond with the horse who has become a permanent fixture in Sydney’s best miles.

Besides running in three Villiers Stakes, Monton has raced in three Doncaster Miles, an Epsom Handicap and he went agonisingly close to a Group One win at the distance when denied in photo finish by Shoot Out in the Chipping Norton Stakes.

Monton beat Kontiki Park in his 2011 Villiers win and his trainer is prepared to forgive the old-timer for misfiring in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill at his most recent start.

“When he races that far back in a field like he did, he basically doesn’t want to compete,” Quinton said.

“He’s an eight-year-old and he’s quite clever and each time the old horse has been ridden back too far he just says ‘ well what do you want me to do’.”

Monton will go around as one of the outsiders after being quoted at $21 in first markets but his prospects have improved with barrier five.

The Steven O’Dea-trained Sir Moments has opened favourite at $5 despite drawing off the course in gate 14 in a field of 15.

Sir Moments turned in arguably the best Villiers trial when he ran on from the back in the field in the Festival Stakes.

Strawberry Boy, who led and finished third in the Festival, is pressing for favouritism as a $5.50 chance and Rose Of Choice and mudlark Rudy share the third line of betting at $7.

Besides Strawberry Boy, leading trainer Chris Waller will run I’m Imposing and Multilateral.

I’m Imposing closed late to win the Festival Stakes, a race in which Multilateral worked home in promising style at his first run since the Sydney spring carnival.

Multilateral has been one of the first Villiers runners backed, firming from $35 to $21.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au