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Sometimes a good horse emerges from the Japan Racing Association Plate run at Randwick on Saturday.
Viewed was just that. Will it happen again in the 2026 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday?
2026 JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION PLATE - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Japan Racing Association Plate is a Group 3 race conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick.
The JRA Plate was first run in 1997 and is a quality handicap for horses three years old and older with a maximum topweight of 61kg.
The JRA Plate is run over 2000m and was a Listed race from 1997 until 2013. It has been Group 3 since 2014.
The 2026 JRA Plate was run for prizemoney of $250,000.
The great Tie The Knot won the race in 1999 off his Tancred win as a prep run for the Sydney Cup win five days later.
Zaaki ran second in 2021 but was disqualified because of a prohibited substance. He would later win the Hollindale Stakes, Doomben Cup and Q22 in the Winter and then Tramway Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Mackinnon Stakes in the Spring.
The 2023 running is now famous for the horse who came 8th. Pride Of Jenni, and the ride by Regan Bayliss, was some sign of the history to come over the same course and distance.
Notable winners of the JRA Plate include Sharscay, Tie The Knot, Vitrinite, Restless, Pentastic, Above Deck, Viewed, Herculian Prince, Hawk Island, Western Symbol, Kellinni, Spillway, Life Less Ordinary, Huetor and Bois D'Argent.
The 2025 JRA Plate was won by Bois D'Argent from Hezashocka and New Endeavour.
