A NINE hour round trip proved more than worthwhile for Nowra trainer Robert Price courtesy of a fighting victory from Ramsays Curse at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Saturday.

Ramsays Curse ($13.00) took his career earnings $200 short of the $200,000 mark with a win in the Riverina Hotel 2014 League Of Their Own Mile Open Handicap (1600m).

A quality field came together for open handicap but it turned out to be a battle of the veteran campaigners as nine-year-old Ramsays Curse got the better of 10-year-old Wagga gelding Gunner ($5.00) in a fighting finish.

A slow tempo up front set it up for the front-runners and it took the entire home straight for Ramsays Curse to get the better of Gunner by ¾ lengths.

Bruadar ($9.00) was a further length back in third.

Price made the long trip from Nowra and was relieved to get the money.

"I thought he was the best horse in the race," Price said.

"It's a long way to come, a nine hour day, so it was good for the old boy to win that.

"He might win another couple more if we're prepared to keep coming to the bush."

Ramsays Curse is a metropolitan winner with 12 career wins to his name now after 62 starts.

The gelding had not won in more than 12 months but Price said it was purely a matter of time.

"It's the old deal of getting too high up the ratings and having to carry too much weight," Price explained.

"He's had some awkward barriers too.

"For some unknown reason this preparation he's wanted to jump and run and he's never done that.

"He drew a good gate today and from his 60-odd starts and he's never won from outside the lead.

"We wanted to ride him back but with that farcical speed, he ended up outside the leader."

Gunner led the field and was brave in defeat for Wagga trainer Brad Witt and jockey Jason Collins.