The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Ecuador and Arbeitsam head up the nominations for the Group 3 $150,000 Sharp Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Arbeitsam, above, is among the nominations for the 2018 Japan Racing Association Plate at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Twenty-one horses have been nominated for the Japan Racing Association Plate with owners and trainers hoping to salvage some late Autumn Carnival riches.

Arbeitsam ran a brave race last start when he tried to lead all of the way before running third behind Happy Clapper and Comin’ Through in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) day one of The Championships at Randwick on April 7.

The step back up to the 2000m on Saturday will suit the Snitzel four year old who was a winner over the distance at Rosehill two starts back in the Group 3 $150,000 The Daily Telegraph Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

Ecuador will be fitter for one run back from a spell when second to Cellarman in the Group 3 $150,000 Mounties 50th Birthday Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on March 31.

Trainer James Cummings also has two horses nominated for the Japan Racing Association Plate, Tally and Interlocuter.

Both have been out of the placings lately with Tally finishing fifth last start in the Neville Sellwood Stakes while Interlocuter has failed to threaten at two runs from a spell, his latest an eighth in the Doncaster Prelude.

The Chris Waller stable has a strong presence with four horses among the nominations, McCreery, Montauk, Liapari and My Nordic Hero.

Team Snowden will have one of the major contenders in the nominations for the Japan Racing Association Plate with last start winner The Pinnacle who was rewarded for some consistent performances with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 24.

Nominations for the 2018 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m)