BIG NAMES ON DARLEY SHORT LIST
Thursday, 21 November 2013: Chris Waller may have rejected an initial offer but Darley insists they will pursue an Australian trainer to head the country’s biggest stable when Peter Snowden departs next year
Darley's Henry Plumptre
Reports that Waller was sounded as Snowden’s replacement as early as September have not been denied by the Rosehill trainer.
Waller, who dethroned Snowden as Sydney’s premier trainer, was immediately pinpointed by the media as an obvious choice to take charge of Australia’s biggest stable when Snowden announced on Wednesday that he will leave Darley next April to establish his own stable in partnership with his son Paul.
However Waller would not comment about any discussions he may have had with Sheikh Mohammed’s representatives about taking charge of the Warwick Farm stable.
"No comment. All I will say is it would be a dream job for somebody,” were the only remarks drawn from Waller when he was confronted about the Darley job on Wednesday.
But that is not to say Darley management will not revisit Waller with a substantial offer to link with Sheikh Mohammed now that Snowden’s position and timeline on his future plans have been made clear.
Other names doing the rounds include Anthony Freedman, Guy Walter, Joe Pride, Bjorn Baker and Snowden’s current number one Brad Widdup.
Walter and Freedman already train horses for Sheikh Mohammed and no doubt would be at the top of any short list.
Darley Australia’s managing director Henry Plumptre has confirmed that the replacement for