The prospect of a wet Moonee Valley track and the absence of Black Caviar have prompted trainer Chris Waller to give Shellscrape his chance in the William Reid Stakes.Earlier in the week, Waller was so certain Shellscrape would not run in Saturday's 1200m Group One feature he advised jockey Corey Brown to stay home in Sydney and wait another week for the Oakleigh Plate.But events over the past few days have persuaded the trainer to run the three-year-old who finished third to Nicconi in the Ligh

The prospect of a wet Moonee Valley track and the absence of Black Caviar have prompted trainer Chris Waller to give Shellscrape his chance in the William Reid Stakes.

Earlier in the week, Waller was so certain Shellscrape would not run in Saturday's 1200m Group One feature he advised jockey Corey Brown to stay home in Sydney and wait another week for the Oakleigh Plate.

But events over the past few days have persuaded the trainer to run the three-year-old who finished third to Nicconi in the Lightning Stakes last Saturday week.

Unbeaten filly Black Caviar's autumn campaign was halted on Thursday morning when she was found to have injured a suspensory ligament while storms swept through Victoria in the afternoon.

"The thought of a wet track is enticing and Black Caviar's scratching enticed us even more," Waller said.

"It's a quality field but he has as good a chance as the rest.

"Nicconi is the benchmark for the sprinters but Shellscrape's record says he deserves his chance."

Waller received a further push from Danny Nikolic who will take the ride on Saturday.

"It was just by chance Danny rode him in trackwork on Tuesday at Moonee Valley," Waller said.

"He came out to ride Dystopia for me and also jumped on Shellscrape when I decided to take him there as well.

"Later that day we just happened to be on the same plane to Sydney and Danny told me Shellscrape had handled the track well and I shouldn't be worried about that."

Black Caviar had been the odds-on favourite in early markets with Nicconi now first elect ahead of Wanted and Shellscrape, the same order they finished in the Lightning.

Waller said running Shellscrape in the William Reid would more than likely rule him out of the Oakleigh Plate a week later with the Newmarket Handicap on March 6 a probable target.

Shellscrape has won five of his 15 starts, three on slow tracks including the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes in October.