V86® (double jackpot): Sjöström unwilling to guess about the favorite
The four-year-old mare brings three straight wins from the summer into Wednesday’s race at Solvalla.
Claes Sjöström does not dare to get involved in any guessing game as to whether Global Good Luck can add yet another victory after the long layoff.
"One probably shouldn’t stare blindly at the past performances. She should be on the ticket, but I wouldn’t single her," says the Solvalla trainer, who puts Jari Åkerfeldt up as the driver in the amateur race on V86®.
Global Good Luck was eased into her career last July and tried her luck in Lindesberg, where she, in just her second lifetime start, was beaten by Timo Nurmos’ prolific Västerbo Redless.
Claes Sjöström then chose Visby for the mare during the summer. It resulted in three quick wins on Gotland, one of them by a winning margin of seven lengths.
Her past performances look good, albeit outdated, ahead of Wednesday’s race. The trainer cannot see the task as anything other than difficult to assess.
"Of course, she has a slightly more flattering line than her actual winning chance. Horses are usually at their best after a few starts. She’s had a short break. But there’s been no shortage of work, if you know what I mean. Among other things, she’s been to Solvalla three times recently and done solid workouts," says Claes Sjöström, who had his best year as a trainer in 2025 when his stable earned SEK 9.3 million.
When Solvalla hosts V86® together with Jägersro on Wednesday, five weeks of the year have passed, and the win percentage is currently at 29. Five wins from 17 starts with the stable’s horses.
Exactly how 2 Global Good Luck (V86-4) will measure up against the competition as the presumed betting favorite, he leaves unsaid.
"She’s fairly uncomplicated. Kind and easy to both train and drive. Not one who causes trouble. She’s taken her wins in fairly light company, but you can’t do more than win. And it’s precisely the opposition that’s a bit hard to assess. Now this doesn’t look like the toughest race either, and I thought it was suitable to start the season in this race."
Can she reach the lead?
Jari Åkerfeldt takes care of the driving duties in the amateur race on Wednesday. A seasoned driver with more than 1,100 starts and 86 wins. The Åkerfeldt–Sjöström collaboration has, among other things, included a third place in the Amateur Championship with the horse Jerka Sting.
"Jari is reliable, he’s driven a lot of races, and the cooperation has worked very well. How he should go about winning is another matter. I don’t know how fast the others are from the start, but she can leave a bit above average behind the gate at least, and the draw is perfect," says Sjöström.
She should be on a "serious ticket" on V86 at least?
"Yes, I probably wouldn’t play without her, but I wouldn’t single her either."
It’s winter and fairly cold in Stockholm. How does she handle those conditions?
"No problem at all. She’s trained under these conditions the whole time. It might even be a small advantage for her," says the trainer.
Footnote: Wednesday offers a double jackpot on V86 with a potential SEK 17 million to a sole winner with eight correct picks.