A new hurdling star has emerged after debutant Montgomery crushed his opponents with an eight-length win at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Westsouthwest was the overwhelming favourite but Montgomery, trained by Colin and Cindy Alderson, justified the time they had put into him to pull away down the straight and win easily.

"It was well worth the wait," Cindy Alderson said.

Montgomery earned his jumping ticket after schooling last year but was never truly fit so was sent back to the paddock.

The eight-year-old gelding showed his talent when he won a trial by 15 lengths at Traralgon last month and fulfilled that promise at Sandown.

"It's great to get that out of the way. He is proficient at jumping and just loves it," Alderson said.

Montgomery will now be primed for the the Australian Hurdle at Sandown on August 28 after his win at $4.20 in the Caulfield Cup Tickets Hcp with Westsouthwest ($1.60 fav) second and Budai ($7) 4-3/4 lengths third.

The Australian Hurdle, along with the Australian Steeplechase, was rescheduled when heavy rain caused the cancellation of the June 1 meeting at Sandown.

In the first race of the day, New Zealand jumper Riviera Star made amends for his failure in last month's Grand National Steeple with a solid win in Wednesday's 3500m steeplechase.

Riviera Star was on the pace throughout on the heavy track and was impressive enough for trainer Brett Scott to declare the seven-year-old gelding would run in the the Australian Steeplechase.

Formerly with John Wheeler in New Zealand, Riviera Star was sent to his ex-foreman with the Grand National in mind but after jumping the 13th fence awkwardly he was eased out of the race as Bashboy went on to win.

"Things are going in the right direction and we'll hang around for the Australian Steeple," Scott said.

"He's had a little bit of experience now."

Riviera Star ($3.50 equal fav) was too strong in the straight to win the MRC Members Millinery Steeplechase Hcp from Jooli Lad ($3.50) by three-quarters of a length with Makena Lei ($4.40) a half head away third.