Diamond Oasis isn't the best sprinter Joe Pride has on his hands but he could be an integral part of the trainer's plans to win the Group One William Reid Stakes.
First-up since winning races at Warwick Farm and Moonee Valley in October, Diamond Oasis gave the Canberra 1000-metre track record a nudge when he won the Camarena Quality at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday.
The short-course specialist took up his preferred front-running role and held for a class-record win, beating the fast-finishing The Monstar by 1-3/4 lengths.
"I'm hoping to take a horse down for the William Reid Stakes (on March 27) and I think I will take Diamond Oasis down as a travelling mate," Pride said.
While Pride is considering Tiger Tees for the William Reid, Diamond Oasis will run in a 955m race at the meeting having already won over the course.
Tiger Tees ran one of the worst races of his career in the Canterbury Stakes on Saturday but Pride said the Group One winner's return to racing should be best forgotten.
"The track was too firm for him and I'm pretty confident with a bit of give in the ground he will be back to his best," he said.
Diamond Oasis was ridden by Hugh Bowman who completed an early double when Snippets Land won the Listed National Sprint (1400m).
Snippets Land settled in the second half the field and crept into the race with a three-wide trail before Bowman eased him to the outside at the 400m.
"When I really asked him to stretch out he really responded beautifully and he was dominant in the end," Bowman said.
Snippets Land defeated Mighty Lucky by a length with Darciwood 1-1/4 lengths away third.
The four-year-old brought up a double for Peter and Paul Snowden after Courtza King won a 1200m maiden as odds-on favourite.