A relentless work ethic, horsemanship and an ability to continually stoke the competitive fires have underpinned Peter Snowden's six years as head trainer for Darley Australia.

As he prepares for his final day with the global racing powerhouse on Saturday, little has changed.

Snowden's afternoon will be devoted to the fate of 22 horses across three states, 16 of those at Hawkesbury where he will saddle up, provide instruction and debrief with the Darley team for the last time.

There will be mixed emotions.

Sure, he is about to relinquish a job regarded as one of the pinnacle posts in Australian racing.

But he will do so with pride in the legacy he has left, in his 28 Group One wins for Darley, and the anticipation of starting a training partnership with his son Paul.

"It's a big day finishing up with Darley but it's also the beginning of a new chapter for me," Snowden said.

"I'm looking forward to the day and I'm looking forward to the new challenge on Sunday morning."

Snowden's runners are headed by Wistful in the Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

Stakes placed during the Melbourne spring, the mare has gradually worked into form this campaign and her last-start second at Warwick Farm signalled her readiness for Hawkesbury.

"It was a good run and we're backing up which is perfect for her because she is a gross mare," Snowden said.

"She's drawn a good gate and I think she's a genuine chance."

The Darley Crown, sponsored by Snowden's employers, has been a fruitful race for him delivering three wins in the past four years.

He will have up to four runners, including reigning titleholder Aerobatics and the resuming Pleiades who Kerrin McEvoy has opted to ride.

McEvoy and Snowden have been an often formidable team during the trainer's tenure and Darley's No.1 stable rider is hoping he can deliver a fitting farewell.

Both rated their finest achievement together as the clean sweep of all five Group One juvenile races in 2011.

McEvoy says he has learned a lot from Snowden.

"There have been funny moments, there have been a lot of serious moments as well," McEvoy said.

"Obviously there is a good amount of pressure on.

"I'm not a training-type of jockey but Pete has taught me a lot about being patient with horses and letting the horse progress into races when it's ready."

The trainer's last day for Darley will also have an interesting aside.

Peter and Paul Snowden will have rival runners for the first time in the opening race and could also go head-to-head in the Darley Crown if the Paul Snowden-trained second emergency Commanding Wit gains a start.

It will be a convergence of Peter Snowden's two worlds, the old and the new.

And he reckons his son should make the most of it.

"It's his only chance to have a crack at me because I'll be with him on Sunday."