A gelding operation a little more complicated than most has done the trick with Lankan Rupee who has claimed an overdue stakes win at Flemington.

The Mick Price-trained four-year-old won Thursday's Listed Earl Gray Stakes (1000m) by a nose from multiple stakes winner Snitzerland who has had a few problems of her own this spring.

The Gerald Ryan-trained Snitzerland, the $3.70 favourite, led the field down the straight and looked to have the race in her keeping until Lankan Rupee ($9.50) put his nose in front in the picture.

"It was a tricky operation," Price said of the gelding process.

"He had one (testicle) up and one down and had to have a general anaesthetic.

"But it has been a great success.

"I thought Snitzerland looked absolutely fabulous in the mounting yard so we beat the right horse.

"It's onwards and upwards from here on."

Price began the spring with a bang when his best horse Samaready won the Group One Moir Stakes.

Things turned pear shaped when she suffered an internal hemorrhage during her Manikato Stakes failure.

The Moir Stakes was a disaster for Snitzerland who was found to have a respiratory problem which needed treatment after she finished an uncharacteristic eighth.

Although she didn't win on Thursday, trainer Gerald Ryan and co-owner Neil Werrett were pleased to see her run well.

"She's run a great race and that will be it for the spring," Ryan said.

"We will bring her back in the early autumn for the Lightning Stakes here at Flemington and take it from there."