Karl Burke will be forever thankful for the phone call he received from owner Kia Joorabchian before Christmas after Indestructible threw his hat into the QIPCO 2000 Guineas ring with a commanding success in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket.    

Trained in Ireland last year by Michael O’Callaghan the son of Kodiac made an instant impact on his first start for the Leyburn handler when taking his form to new heights in after securing the most significant success of his career in today’s Group Three feature.

In a race that paid to sit prominently the 8-1 travelled just in behind early leader, and eventual third Dancing Magic, for much of the race before being sent on in pursuit of last year’s Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes winner The Foxes passing the two-furlong pole.  

Having twice finished behind The Foxes’ stablemate Chaldean in the Group Three Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York and in the Group Two Coral Champagne Stakes at Doncaster there was to be no settling for second best on this occasion.

Settling out to do battle with The Foxes inside the final furlong Indestructible, sporting the Amo Racing Limited silks, eventually got the better of the Group Two scorer in the climb to the line emerging on top under Kevin Stott by a length and a quarter.

It was a second Group Three success for Amo Racing at the bet365 Craven Meeting following the victory of Mammas Girl in yesterday’s Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Following the race Indestructible was trimmed into 14-1 for the 2000 Guineas back at the track on May 6th by Paddy Power while William Hill went 16-1 for the same race.

Burke said: “That was brilliant. The horses have hit form at just the right time. If you would have been talking to me two weeks ago I would have been tearing what is left of my hair out but things have clicked into gear.

“He is a lovely scopey horse. He had a couple little of niggles when he arrived physically but nothing major. He has worked well, but because of those little niggles, and I’m sure Kevin will say the same that he has had a good blow today and he will come on.

“He had been working very well, especially the last two weeks. Each piece of work he has done leading into this he worked better each time. I’m delighted.

“For sure (the wind op helped). It was on a cauterization, it wasn’t anything major but our vets felt it would help him and I’m sure they are right.

“I didn’t have him last year but I’ve watched all the replays. I imagine the deep ground didn’t suit him when he was second at Doncaster. I’d say I would have to fight Kia not to send him back here in two weeks’ time, but I’m sure he deserves his chance.

“This is the only horse (I’ve got for Amo Racing) at the moment, but we’ve had a couple of horses for them over the last few seasons.

“It is shame for connections who had him last year but I got a phone call just before Christmas asking if I would take him and I’m not going to down horses like him.

“Who knows what Aidan (O’Brien) will bring over. We will digest this and see how he comes out of it but I would be very surprised if he doesn’t come back here in two weeks. “

Victory might have eluded The Foxes, on his return to action, however connections of the Andrew Balding-trained colt were more than happy with the outcome.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to owners King Power Racing, said: “We are delighted with that as this was always going to be a prep for the Dante and the Derby has been the main focus with him all along.

“We didn’t want to go to the Dante first time. He has travelled great and looked like he was going to win the race but he has just got tired. I think he was a bit lonely out in front as well.

“The full-sister goes two miles so it is quite exciting for the future. They have pulled a long way clear of the others and we are on track for the plan.

“Initially we were thinking the Dante first time up but he done that before with a horse and they were too fresh so we wanted to have a run under the belt before we go to the Dante.

“He is much more relaxed than Bangkok. He was quite an awkward ride whereas this guy is super relaxed and he should stay, whereas Bangkok was a 10 furlong horse.”

Among those set to take on The Foxes in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes will be third-placed Dancing Magic after his trainer Roger Teal earmarked a trip to York on May 18th will be next up for the Camelot colt.

Teal said: “He deserves to be winning races as he has never ever let us down. He was a bit unfortunate not to break his maiden tag last year as he got mugged on the line at Newbury. I’m delighted with him.

“Kieran (Shoemark, jockey) rode him out at home and said he worked a bit lazy but I said all the good horses at home are lazy. Kieran said he could have probably gone a bit quicker but he was coming back up the hill.

“I think what we will do now is go to the Dante, and if we were to pick that trophy up we would go for the French Derby.”