The Hombre won the main lead-up to the Group One Railway Handicap at Ellerslie by a street but his trainer rates him only "a runner's chance" in the big race on New Year's Day.

The Hombre led from the outset in the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and sprinted away to beat Kitt Ann Miss by 3-1/2 lengths.

Trainer John Bary said he'd targeted the Newmarket this year rather than the Railway, in which The Hombre ran second last year to Australian galloper Atomic Force.

However, he will run in the Railway after having travelled 430km from Hastings for the race.

"We just thought maybe this year would be a bit softer in the Newmarket, so we set him for this one," Bary said.

"I suppose we'll have a shot at the Railway because we're up here, but he's probably better as a fresher runner. I'd say he's a runner's chance to be honest, this probably might have been his go."

Bary said the race meant a lot to him as his stepfather Dick Lee won the race in the late 1970s with Pennevari.

"He still works in the stable - he's 87 years old, still mucks out and washes off in the morning," he said.

"It's always special to win one the family's won before."