Buccellati won the intercasino.co.uk St Simon Stakes at Newbury to give William Buick a boost in the race for the apprentice title.

He is now level with David Probert after partnering the 15/2 chance to a game success.

With favourite Ask running too freely and weaking tamely from two furlongs out, it was Blue Monday who gave the winner most to do.

He fought tenaciously to the line but Buccellati was always in control and went on to score by a length.

Another leading fancy Spanish Moon refused to enter the stalls.

"He has done nothing wrong all year and the race worked out well for me. The only thing is he had never raced on this ground before and that was the question mark," the jockey said.

"He could still go a long way from this. He's improving all the time."

"William has just always got on well with him," said trainer Andrew Balding.

"The horse just thrives on racing. His only disappointing run was in Turkey when he didn't quite let himself down on the fast ground.

"We might get an invite for the Hong Kong Vase now and the genuine good to firm at Sha Tin would be fine."