Any concerns Peter Snowden had regarding a split from the mighty Darley empire were erased by one phone call.
The champion trainer and all round good guy stunned the racing world earlier this week when announcing he and Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed, the man behind Darley, were parting company.
“I spoke to Bob Ingham first, he was the first person I spoke to,” Snowden said on Friday.
“His view was very important to me, he was instrumental in getting me the job at Darley.”
Ingham, and his late brother Jack, were Snowden loyalists. Some 26 years ago Snowden, a former jockey who was training out of Scone, joined the Ingham dream.
Snowden was a foundation member of the Inghams unmatched and pioneering Woodlands Stud operation. The “chicken Kings” wanted to breed to race and the tyros made a buck out of it.
Enough to ensure Sheik Mohammed decided to pay some $500 million for the operation six years ago. It was a walk in walk out sale, horses, bridles, the lot and Snowden, having taken over from Hall of Farmer John Hawkes as head trainer at Woodlands, was part of the deal.
And the now 57-year-old hasn’t let anyone down. Racing And Sports stats are startling. Since the 2007-08 season Snowden has trained 1246 winners, 36 at group 1 level, 55 group 2s, 83 group 3s, another 202 stakes winners for prizemoney of $74,482 million.
“Bob was proud of the decision I’ve made to go into a training partnership with my son Paul,” Snowden said.
“He said ‘the judgement you’ve made throughout your life has been sound and there is no reason this won’t be’.”
Snowden said the Inghams were “terrific”, “fantastic” and added “they were very good to work for, an honour”.
“Then Darley backed me from the start and I cannot thank them enough for that,” Snowden said.
“I’ve spent 26 years here, first at Woodlands then Darley, it is half my working life.”
Snowden remains at the helm of the Darley operation until the end of the next Sydney autumn carnival.
A training partnership between himself and 34-year-old son Paul, who heads up Darley’s Flemington stables, will commence.
“He [Paul] is good at his job, a horseman through and through,” a proud father said.
The duo intend training out of Warwick Farm and while Peter Snowden is keen to start off small it may not be the case.
“Unbelievable the support I’ve had,” Snowden said.
“I cannot believe it, the phone calls, the text messages, the ATC [Australian Turf Club] has rung talking about stables, I cannot thank all those people enough.”
Snowden’s team will take seven horses to Randwick tomorrow to compete on the re-built Kensington track which hosts its first Saturday meeting.
Included are juvenile debutantes Stephansdom and Occitan and it is worth remembering Darley’s two-year-olds are winning.
“They are going OK and these two are ready to race,” Snowden said.
“Occitan has had the two trials and is a little more forward. There isn’t much between them in ability and their work has been good.”
Sinjoren steps out for the first time in town while Miniature has also won two on the trot.
“Sinjoren is in good form and will run well while Miniature has drawn a wide gate which is the only disadvantage,” Snowden said.
“She is a chance in a good race.”
By Craig Young
