BRIEFS - Thompson moves up

EAST BOSTON, Massachusetts (CMC):

Winston Thompson took over third place in the jockeys' standings with a treble on Saturday at Suffolk Downs. The Jamaican reinsman increased his tally of wins for the new season to 10, which leaves him three behind leader Tammi Piermarini and two shy of Hector Ramos.

Thompson opened his account with a ³/⁴-length victory astride the 3-5 favourite Lovely Lashes in the US $7,100 second race going 1,200 metres on the dirt. Thompson added to his haul, when 7-2 favourite Primal Baby was 2³/⁴-lengths clear at the end of the US $14,900 seventh race over 1,200m. Thompson then closed the day, when 13-5 favourite Hot Brew finished a handy four lengths clear in the US $7,100 ninth race going 1,600m.

Bridgmohan closes gap

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (CMC):

Shaun Bridgmohan turned up the pressure on top reinsman Calvin Borel, when he won three times on Saturday's race card at the hallowed Churchill Downs racetrack. The Jamaican jockey fortified his second place in the jockeys' standings on 23 wins, four behind three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Borel.

Bridgmohan stamped his authority from early, when he drove the odds-on favourite Outta Speight to a half-length victory in the US $17,000 first race over 1,200 metres on the dirt. Bridgmohan added to his bounty, when 8-5 favourite Snuggs and Kisses won by 1-1/4 lengths in the US $23,000 fifth race going 1,600m. Bridgmohan capped his memorable day with a comfortable 7¹/²-length victory aboard the 8-5 favourite Ash Zee in the US $48,384 ninth race over 1,400m.

Lara spot on

MANCHESTER, England (CMC):

West Indies cricket legend, Brian Lara, netted from the penalty spot in a winning effort for the Rest of the World over England yesterday at Old Trafford. Lara's exploits on the cricket field are well known, but he once wore national colours at the junior level for his native Trinidad & Tobago.

The batting legend policed the midfield along with international stars Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ryan Giggs, Heinrik Larson and Sammi Hyppia in a holding role in the centre of the park. A spirited second-half performance saw the Rest of the World overcome a two-goal deficit against the likes of former England greats Alan Shearer, Teddy Sherringham and Nicky Butt, as both teams used past task masters with a heavy mix of celebrities.

The Socceraid charity match is held every two years and the proceeds go to UNICEF. Yesterday's match raised over 1.5 million pounds sterling.