Big race rider Glen Boss has began shedding weight to ride Sydney colt Shellscrape in Saturday week"s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.

Boss lifted the Anthony Cummings-trained Turffontein home to score in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley recently but that horse will only compete in the Newmarket on soft ground.

Boss has decided to secure a ride in the race and has switched to the Chris Waller trained Shellscrape, who finished a disappointing last in the William Reid.

But the Dane Shadow colt is very well weighted under the handicap conditions of the Newmarket and will carry just 50kg in the Group 1 sprint up the Flemington straight.

Shellscrape has raced at Flemington twice and has placed in both the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes last spring and the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes fresh-up this campaign.

Shellscrape is currently trading at $32.00 for the Newmarket with fellow Sydney galloper All Silent heading the market at $5.10 with Starspangledbanner at $8.60.

Story courtesy of Racing and Sports