A gelding whose future lays in jumping has proved he still has something left in him for flat racing with a narrow victory at Caulfield on Saturday.

It had been a long time between wins for the Peter Moody-trained Hanks ($31), whose last success was in February last year at a night meeting at Moonee Valley.

With Luke Nolen aboard for the Winslow Constructors Handicap (2000m), Hanks defied his odds to join the leaders at the 100 metre mark and edge out favourite Bells of Troy ($2.25) to win by a short neck with Anagold ($10) third.

Despite his return to form, Moody has Hanks earmarked for a career over the hurdles.

"We've probably only kept him around the place because of his jumping," Moody said.

Moody said his plans to turn Hanks into a jumper have been frustrated by Melbourne's recent wet weather.

Each time he has been scheduled for a jumps trial, they have been washed out.

The seven-year-old's career has also been thwarted by tendon and back injuries.

Moody will make another attempt to start Hanks in a hurdle trial at Cranbourne on Wednesday with the aim of getting him schooled for the jumps season next year.