God Knows wins Bellewstown Claimer for Brabazon Curragh trainer Dick Brabazon opened his account for the season as the Seamie Heffernan ridden God Knows landed the opening Meath Farm Machinery Claiming Race at Bellewstown. A 10-furlong winner at Down Royal two years ago, the six-year-old coped with the drop in distance here, despite needing every yard of it to get her head in front. Tracking the leaders in the initial stages, Heffernan sat just off market leader In The Minus, as Royal Tribute and Grand Dante forced the pace. As the latter pair gave way early in the straight, Sam Coen came through to lead on the strong travelling In The Minus. However, Heffernan soon covered the move, going second on the inside rail. The two battled it out head to head inside the final furlong before God Knows edged ahead close home to win. Dick Brabazon said: "We always liked the filly but obviously if you're a year off things go wrong. "We just had to drop her in class and see could we get a win. "She's a filly I thought could be in good handicaps, but just things go wrong. Obviously, we got her patched up and she performed there. "He (Heffernan) just said going out 'I think she is a different class than these'. Obviously, we must have had her fairly right to do the job. "No (wouldn't want to lose her) but, having said that, I think if you go into a claimer there is no more messing around. If someone takes her, they take her. I'd be doing everything to keep her only I bred her, so I have others. I have a lovely yearling filly. If someone else goes on and wins races, I would be delighted." Cherry Pink was subsequently claimed by Neil Durkan to be trained by William Durkan. Paul Sweeney claimed God Knows and, In The Minus was claimed by Brian Francis Cawley. Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
