Chris Waller surely leads the field as Darley searches for Peter Snowden's replacement

IF you believe Darley did not talk to Chris Waller about becoming his No.1 trainer you probably also believe in the tooth fairy.

It's likely Chris Waller would have been approached by Darley but also clear he would've knocked them back.

IF you believe Darley did not talk to Chris Waller about becoming No.1 trainer for their Australian racing empire you probably also believe in the tooth fairy.

John Ferguson, Ollie Tait and Henry Plumptre, the three head honchos of Sheikh Mohammed's global racing empire, are extremely smart men. Underrate them at your peril.

They are certainly clever enough to have noticed that Waller trains as many winners in Sydney as Peter Snowden and Gai Waterhouse put together and they would also realise he is Australia's leading trainer of Group One winners. Of course they would have spoken to him.

Just as certain is Waller would knock them back. Why would he go and work for somebody else after being so fabulously successful himself? Why would he take orders from others when he now makes all the decisions himself?

Money does not drive Waller. The fear of failure and the thrill of success are more the keys to the man.

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If you can't get Waller, put yourself in Darley's shoes and ask, "Who do you get?"

I doubt Gai Waterhouse is on the radar so working down the list of successful Sydney trainers you then come to John O'Shea and Guy Walter or do you reward the excellent service of Brad Widdup and David Charles, who have worked under Peter Snowden in the current set-up and back them up with the might of the organisation?

Or do you go further afield and think of John Size in Hong Kong?

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I was asked by a Brisbane radio station during the week where Peter Snowden would get his clients when he went out on his own.

My answer was he would be swamped with clients and horses. You don't produce Group One results and be such a good bloke without people taking notice.

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Another good bloke who should be swamped with offers of a position within the racing industry is Rod Quinn, who decided this week to hang up his saddles after 39 years of riding.

Quinn rode a couple of champions in Lonhro and Viscount and he was a champion himself. If you want to hear a good word about R.M.Quinn just ask anybody who knows him, you won't ***

What a fabulous debut the "new" Kensington track made on Saturday. It was in superb condition after the recent rain and track manager Nevesh Ramdhani deserves all the pats on the back that can be mustered. If the track continues in this vein it will be Australia's best.

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How's this for a bit of spin? Ian Mackay of Racing NSW claims the Golden Slipper will be enhanced by taking two Group One races away from Slipper day and slashing the prizemoney of the co-feature, the BMW by a third.

Ian, it is what it is and the day now won't take away from Randwick as much. Golden Slipper day has now gone from being equal with Derby day at Flemington as one of the two best racedays in Australia to something less.

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Serg Lisnyy's riding at Randwick on Saturday was the talk of the track and I sympathise with punters who backed Calming Influence and Capital Commander. Calming Influence probably should have won and Capital Commander certainly should have won.

The kid showed he could ride in the previous seven days by turning in gems from back in the field on Said Com, who was just beaten at Rosehill, and Artistic Lass, who won at Canterbury.

Although punters have to be protected, being too hard on the kid might not be the answer. Some expert tutelage on settling horses and the judgement of pace is what is needed.

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RIDE OF THE DAY

Nathan Berry on Territory. A bit of patience, a bit of daring and a great big bit of brilliance.

RUN OF THE DAY

Solemn. Showing more zip this preparation, but will still be at his best over longer.

FORGET IT RAN

Calming Influence. Was not given her chance to win.