Accomplished jumper Sand Sweeper became an unlikely leading prospect for next week's Winter Championship Final when he underlined his versatility with what jockey Michael Rodd described as a "massive" win at Flemington.Having his first start since finishing second last in Oakbank's Von Doussa Steeplechase on April 11, Sand Sweeper made light work of his 59kg topweight to cause a major upset at $51 in the final heat of the winter series with a hard-fought length win over Tictacs ($9)."I can't bel

Accomplished jumper Sand Sweeper became an unlikely leading prospect for next week's Winter Championship Final when he underlined his versatility with what jockey Michael Rodd described as a "massive" win at Flemington.

Having his first start since finishing second last in Oakbank's Von Doussa Steeplechase on April 11, Sand Sweeper made light work of his 59kg topweight to cause a major upset at $51 in the final heat of the winter series with a hard-fought length win over Tictacs ($9).

"I can't believe it," Rodd said as the magnitude of the performance sunk in.

While acknowledging the brave performance of the eight-year-old, Rodd paid tribute to jumps jockey Brett Scott who, as trainer John Wheeler's stable foreman, prepared Sand Sweeper for the stunning first-up win.

"I hope people don't overlook this. This is really big. It is massive for Brett to do this," he said.

"Looking at the field I thought we had it all ahead of us with the big weight and the classy sort of field but he's done it."

Rodd followed instructions to let Sand Sweeper find his rhythm and had him rolling in second place behind Jungle Ruler all the way until the 200 metres when he threw out the challenge.

"On straightening up I thought I might be a chance of winning this then at the furlong (200m) I thought he might puncture being first-up for a while with 59kg, but he just fought on," Rodd said.

"He wasn't going to let anything get past him."

Scott said the win underlined the versatility of Sand Sweeper who has raced five times over jumps for two wins and a second.

He said the plan was to run the gelding in next month's Bob Barr Hurdle at Moonee Valley but he admitted he was now likely to run in next week's $200,000 Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington.

"He normally races better with two or three weeks between runs but he can probably come back here next week," Scott said.

He said he was wasn't expecting Sand Sweeper to win on Saturday but thought he would run well given his good first-up record.

"He hasn't done a lot since Oakbank, no trial, no jumpouts, but he's a super fresh horse at 1400m to a mile (1600m)," Scott said.

"Obviously I wasn't coming here thinking he would win the race but I was pretty confident he could run in the money."

Sand Sweeper was a stakeswinner in New Zealand and last year won both the Kilmore and Pakenham Cups.

Scott said he was unsure how Saturday's win would affect future jumps race plans for Sand Sweeper.

"It is good position to be in. He is a very versatile horse," he said.