Johan Cruyff receives ratings boost ahead of Australian Cup

Quality galloper Johan Cruyff has been given an international boost as trainer Patrick Biancone prepares his stable star for an assault on the Group One Australian Cup at Flemington in March.

A meeting of international handicappers in Tuscon, Arizona, last month drew up this year's International Classifications for horses and the Hong Kong Derby winner, who ran fourth in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, is the top-rated local horse on 115.

He achieved that largely on the strength of his fighting second to Japanese raider Midnight Bet (117) in the International Cup race last month and is officially one point higher in the International Classifications than Oriental Express (114).

Biancone, who is understandably bullish about Johan Cruyff's chances at Flemington on March 8, said: 'He deserves the international recognition but now the Australians will know he is good, too.

'It is a fair assessment and I am pleased about it. Now we must hope that he can do very well in Melbourne.' Johan Cruyff is an entire with a probable future at stud ahead of him so the latest ranking is good news for owner Thomas Liang Ting-sen. So, too, would victory in an Australian Group One race.

Indigenous, superb winner of the International Vase last month, is rated on 114, which is not surprising as he handily beat Group One winners Taipan (118) and Caitano (121).