David Charles will be Melbourne stable foreman for Darley Australia when John O'Shea takes over as head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's operation in May.

Paul Snowden has run Carbine Lodge at Flemington under his father Peter, but the two are leaving Darley to start a training partnership after the next Sydney autumn carnival.

Charles has been working at Darley's Agnes Banks pre-training centre in recent years.

Darley managing director Henry Plumptre said it was important to retain the successful model run by Snowden, who had all three training sites - Warwick Farm, Agnes Banks and Flemington - with assistants at each venue.

O'Shea will do the same, while Snowden will slot into his Randwick stable.

Many of O'Shea's clients have already indicated they will transfer their horses to Snowden.