The decision to geld Knoydart is reaping rewards with the four-year-old claiming his first stakes win in the Canterbury Classic.

But he needed a little bit of luck and added skill from Kerrin McEvoy to push through a gap to win Friday's Listed 1100m sprint from Howmuchdoyouloveme by a length.

Sookie, the well-supported $3 favourite, loomed up and looked as if she would take control but weakened and was later found to have bled.

Trainer Peter Snowden said his willingness to take the split vindicated the gelding operation on Knoydart, a son of More Than Ready out of Group One winner Regal Cheer.

"There is a lot to say about gelding some of these horses," Snowden said.

"He is a different horse this time.

"He really wanted to push through that gap which is something he wouldn't have done before

"I was in two minds what to do. He could have run in the benchmark race but his work was so sharp I thought we should have a crack."

It was the third successive win on the card for McEvoy who said there was plenty of upside to Knoydart.

"He bullocked through and was dynamic the last bit," he said.

"It was a nice tempo but he needed luck and when he got it he speared through."

Snowden said he would look at the options available to Knoydart who is two from two as a gelding.