John Francome (left) & Vic Soane
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Vic Soane
Vic Soane
1949 - 2026
Victor St John Soane was born in Gloucestershire on July 21, 1949. His father worked for the Ministry of Agriculture.
Victor St John Soane was born in Gloucestershire on July 21, 1949. His father worked for the Ministry of Agriculture.
Vic started riding at the age of 13 and rode ponies for Terry Biddlecombe’s father Walter. He became apprenticed to Fred Winter at Uplands, Lambourn in 1965. He rode his first winner on Mr Phoenix, trained by Winter, in the Pomfret Handicap Chase on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting on April 13, 1968.
Vic started riding at the age of 13 and rode ponies for Terry Biddlecombe’s father Walter. He became apprenticed to Fred Winter at Uplands, Lambourn in 1965. He rode his first winner on Mr Phoenix, trained by Winter, in the Pomfret Handicap Chase on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting on April 13, 1968.
During his time there he shared digs with John Francome for three years after joining the Uplands team.
During his time there he shared digs with John Francome for three years after joining the Uplands team.
In 1973 he rode Winter’s Midnight Fury to win the Mildmay Memorial Chase (run that year at Kempton) in January and the Mandarin Chase at Newbury in December. He won the Charisma Records Chase at Kempton on Noble Neptune in 1975, and landed a second Mandarin Chase on Roman Holiday in 1976 for trainer Verly Bewicke.
In 1973 he rode Winter’s Midnight Fury to win the Mildmay Memorial Chase (run that year at Kempton) in January and the Mandarin Chase at Newbury in December. He won the Charisma Records Chase at Kempton on Noble Neptune in 1975, and landed a second Mandarin Chase on Roman Holiday in 1976 for trainer Verly Bewicke.
Vic remained with Winter throughout the glory years in a 15-year association which saw him ride Bula, Pendil, Crisp, Killiney and Lanzarote at home. He finished fifth on Lanzarote in the 1972 SGB Hurdle at Ascot.
Vic remained with Winter throughout the glory years in a 15-year association which saw him ride Bula, Pendil, Crisp, Killiney and Lanzarote at home. He finished fifth on Lanzarote in the 1972 SGB Hurdle at Ascot.
He most successful season was in 1974-75 with 17 wins. He rode a total of 83 winners before retiring in 1977.
He most successful season was in 1974-75 with 17 wins. He rode a total of 83 winners before retiring in 1977.
He spent three years in the transport business and then had a brief spell training at Frimley Stables, Aston Upthorpe, near Didcot, in 1980-81. His first winner as a trainer was Panatella in a juvenile maiden at Folkestone on July 21, 1981. He also trained for a short time at Newmarket in 1982 and saddled his first winner over jumps with Knapp Flight at Worcester, May 8, 1982.
He spent three years in the transport business and then had a brief spell training at Frimley Stables, Aston Upthorpe, near Didcot, in 1980-81. His first winner as a trainer was Panatella in a juvenile maiden at Folkestone on July 21, 1981. He also trained for a short time at Newmarket in 1982 and saddled his first winner over jumps with Knapp Flight at Worcester, May 8, 1982.
He subsequently worked as assistant trainer to Peter Harris in 1991 when he broke in the yearling My Best Valentine.
He subsequently worked as assistant trainer to Peter Harris in 1991 when he broke in the yearling My Best Valentine.
He resumed training at Aston Park Stud, Aston Rowant in 1996 but in 1998 relocated to Mabberlys, East Garston, near Lambourn. It was there that he became My Best Valentine’s trainer, winning the Listed Bentick Stakes with him in 1997 and achieving Group 1 success when the eight-year-old former hurdler won the 1998 Prix de l’Abbaye with at pari-mutuel odds of 33-1.
He resumed training at Aston Park Stud, Aston Rowant in 1996 but in 1998 relocated to Mabberlys, East Garston, near Lambourn. It was there that he became My Best Valentine’s trainer, winning the Listed Bentick Stakes with him in 1997 and achieving Group 1 success when the eight-year-old former hurdler won the 1998 Prix de l’Abbaye with at pari-mutuel odds of 33-1.
His last winner as a trainer was Mind The Silver at Yarmouth on September 14, 2000. He relinquished his licence at the end of that year, having trained a total of 40 winners, 38 on the Flat and two over jumps).
His last winner as a trainer was Mind The Silver at Yarmouth on September 14, 2000. He relinquished his licence at the end of that year, having trained a total of 40 winners, 38 on the Flat and two over jumps).
Vic Soane died in Spain on April 2, 2026, aged 76.
Vic Soane died in Spain on April 2, 2026, aged 76.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1973: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Midnight Fury
1973: Mildmay Memorial Chase – Midnight Fury
1973: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Midnight Fury
1973: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Midnight Fury
1975: Charisma Handicap Chase – Noble Neptune
1975: Charisma Handicap Chase – Noble Neptune
1976: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Roman Holiday
1976: Mandarin Handicap Chase – Roman Holiday
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