The logic behind the victory of Big Bear Rock at Sandown should have been difficult to ignore.

A proven first-up record, abundant speed, a run in a Group race at his most recent start and a liking for firm tracks all pointed to a forward showing in the Open Sprint (1000m).

The only blot on his record came when he tailed the field of 16 in the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day.

But his trainer Stephen Brown wasn't put off by that seemingly dismal effort.

"He was a 10-1 chance in the Standish, so he can't have been going too bad," Brown said.

"It should have made a him a fair thing in a midweek race."

Brown also explained that Big Bear Rock had been involved in an incident behind the gates at Flemington that had made it impossible for him to stretch out in the race and left him severely lame after it.

"I thought he was a real good chance in the Standish," Brown said.

"But I didn't find out until the jockey told me much later that he'd bashed his shoulder on the barriers as he was being loaded.

"I could hardly walk him off the course."

Big Bear Rock($6) was both fast and fluent at Sandown, scoring by 2-1/2 lengths from the favourite Schumacher with Anabaa's Legacy a further 1-3/4 lengths away in third place.

Another better-than-average midweek performer added to his handy record at Sandown when Khalifa won the Sportingbet Handicap (1300m).

A galloper of Black Caviar-like proportions, Khalifa ($3.30) always had the race in his keeping and scored by 2-1/4 lengths from Holy Heart with Triple Tee a neck further back in third.

Jockey Michael Rodd said the horse, who had previously been troublesome in the barriers, had received some useful assistance at the start.

"I had a really good barrier attendant who got his head straight at just the right time and I could push him out of the gates," Rodd said.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh said Khalifa's 570kg frame created potential leg problems and had limited his career to eight starts of which he has won five.