Kristine Stead was almost lost for words after her horse Jacowils sprung a major surprise in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie.Jacowils came from the rear of the field under an inspired ride from Mark Hills to win the New Year's Day Group One contest at odds of $105.80.Stead, who bred, trained and owns Jacowils, not only won the $150,000 first prize but she had 19 per cent of the $179,735 trifecta and had some money on the horse at a lower fixed odds price.Stead, who trains at Te Rapa near Hamil

Kristine Stead was almost lost for words after her horse Jacowils sprung a major surprise in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie.

Jacowils came from the rear of the field under an inspired ride from Mark Hills to win the New Year's Day Group One contest at odds of $105.80.

Stead, who bred, trained and owns Jacowils, not only won the $150,000 first prize but she had 19 per cent of the $179,735 trifecta and had some money on the horse at a lower fixed odds price.

Stead, who trains at Te Rapa near Hamilton, looked stunned and found it difficult to say anything at the winners' presentation after the race, describing the win as a dream come true.

She said she gave the horse some chance going into the race.

"A lot of people fancied Atapi and he was one place behind him in the Newmarket," Stead said.

Named after Stead's sons Jacob and Wilson, Jacowils won the listed Foxbridge Plate (1400m) earlier this season but he had no form on the firm track conditions which prevailed on Thursday.

"The only reason we had him in the Railway was that we were hoping for a little bit of moisture in the track," Stead said.

"The track may have been good but there was some rain last night and he did the job."

It was the third Group One success for Hills, 32, who gave away riding for three years at one stage.

All his Group One winners have been at long odds - Macavelli Miss was at more than $100 when she won the Thorndon Mile, and Floydeboy was also in double figure odds when he won the Easter Handicap.

"I wanted to be further forward but he didn't jump that well and we had to go back," Hills said.

"But he was travelling well and all the gaps came at the right time."

In an unusual pattern for the Railway, all three placegetters came from the rear of the field. Second-placed Dashing Donna was last on the turn and Pinsoir second last.

They all swamped Atapi who had led until the last 50m.

Stead said she had no idea where Jacowils would head next, as she had pulled him out of the $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham later this month.