Diamond Oasis is set to contest the 2016 WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow and trainer Joe Pride is confident that the sprinter can return to his best form.

Diamond Oasis has the chance to return to winning form in the 2016 WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Diamond Oasis recorded his first race win this preparation when he was far too strong for his rivals in the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day and he went into the Summer Sprint (1000m) at Royal Randwick on January 16 as a clear favourite, but he was one of the first horses beaten and he could finish no better than fourth.

Pride blamed the soft Royal Randwick track for the poor performance of Diamond Oasis in the Summer Sprint and he told Racing Ahead that he believes the Lonhro gelding will produce a much improved performance in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield this weekend.

“He races well down there and he has raced particularly well at Moonee Valley in the past,” Pride said.

“I am pleased with him, he is a 1000 metres specialist and this looks like the right sort of assignment for him.

“I don’t think he is that well suited on soft tracks and that is what he got on that occasion.

“Back on top of the ground he is going to be more effective and I am sure that he will run right up to his best tomorrow.

“I am confident he will run really well, whether that is good enough to win will probably be dependent on some of the others in the race and I don’t have a great grip on the Melbourne form.”

Pride made his Melbourne racing debut when he finished third behind Lion Of Belfort in the Blue Sapphire (1200m) at Caulfield during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but he is still chasing his first win at the venue after finishing fifth behind Lankan Rupee in the 2014 edition of the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m).

Moonee Valley is the only track in Melbourne where Diamond Oasis has recorded a race win following his victory in the Jeep 55 Second Challenge (955m) at the tight-turning track in October of 2014.

Diamond Oasis is currently available at 2016 WJ Adams Stakes odds of $6 with Ladbrokes and he is on the third line of betting behind the well-backed Atmospherical ($3.80) and her stablemate Reldas ($4.20), while Rough Justice ($9) is the only horse available at a single figure quote.