V86: Top form for Arvidsson – has a double chance for victory
For Stefan Arvidsson, 2026 has started strongly with a win in almost every third start. Now the Bollnäs trainer returns to Solvalla with two horses in proven top form – both capable of winning.
– "We’ll give it a try, but it’s not always that easy…At least we’re coming with two good horses," says the trainer ahead of this week’s V86.
The year has started strongly for Stefan Arvidsson.
At the time of writing, after nearly three months of the year completed, the stable has a strike rate of 28 percent.
– "It’s really been a good year and it actually started toward the end of last season, and then it’s continued. The horses are delivering good performances all the time, it feels great and shows that you’re doing something right in the day-to-day work. At the same time, our stable isn’t that big, so you know results like this can come and go a bit, but I also think we have better horses now and they are well placed in their classes. We’re in a good phase in the stable," says Stefan.
Three of the wins have come at Solvalla, and when the capital track once again hosts V86 this Wednesday, the Bollnäs professional returns with two strong contenders.
Four-year-old mare 8 Global Good Girl (V86-2) makes her fourth consecutive appearance this year at the country’s premier oval and started the year with two straight wins, but the question is whether her latest performance might have been her sharpest yet.
Despite a very costly break at the start, Global Good Girl finished fourth, not many lengths behind the winner.
– "She was very good after the break, you have to say that. She got a bit pacy shortly after the start and went into a break, perhaps she was a bit too geared up at that point and it came when the driver asked her to leave, so to speak. But she felt just like normal after the break and the performance was very good. She got a real ‘blowout’, but it doesn’t feel like it affected her negatively."
This is a horse that has shown a very strong development curve over the winter?
– "Yes, exactly. She was a horse we rated quite highly already as a three-year-old, but now it seems things have really clicked for her four-year-old season. It’s working better now and you could already feel in the seasonal debut that things had really started to happen."
Bigger targets may await ahead
With a four-year-old mare showing the kind of potential Global Good Girl has recently, it’s not far-fetched to start looking toward the bigger races for her age group this season.
The trainer does not rule out aiming in that direction later in the year.
– "She’s good for her current class, but she’ll have to show that herself in the near future. We’re going to take the shoes off her for the first time in this start, but that’s something we already tried in training last year and it worked well. Now it’s her first time racing barefoot, and it feels like it should be a clear plus," says Stefan.
Wednesday’s race comes first. Despite drawing the outside post on the wing in the handicap, we still have to believe in her chances?
– "We knew it would likely be a tougher draw, but sometimes those last thirty minutes of entries can drive you crazy…Anyway, the post was expected in a way, and we’re facing horses in the same class, so you have to believe in a chance as long as things don’t go wrong. The horse has shown that she’s good."
Very pleased last time – now a perfect draw
Two years older, 1 Global Email (V86-6) also makes the trip to Solvalla.
The gelding was locked in with plenty of energy left two starts ago in V85 at Bergsåker, and in his most recent outing he finished well out in the lanes – a performance the trainer views very positively.
– "I was extremely pleased with him last time. He has basically never really raced that well from behind before, but now he did and kept going all the way to the line. We were very satisfied with that performance and his form is really good."
And this time you’ve drawn a much better post, the inside behind the gate over athesprint distance?
– "Yes, we’re very happy with the draw as well. He didn’t manage to hold up the inside when we were at Bergsåker two starts ago, but at the same time there was only one horse that was faster. The dream scenario is of course that he holds up the lead this time, but regardless he should get a good trip from here," says Stefan Arvidsson, adding an interesting note regarding the intended setup:
– "It will be the first time racing barefoot all around for him, it’s a bit untested on this horse but the feeling is that it should be positive."
Is it impossible that it could be two wins on V86?
– "We’ll give it a try, but it’s not always that easy…At least we’re coming with two good horses.