oores pleasure of a plan coming together as it was about giving discerning Asian ownership confidence in what they had just seen.I said to Jason Tan, the owner, youve got a permit buy a horse to

Novak Djokovic twice came from behind to defeat Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their Rome Masters quarter-final. A 7-5 7-6 (7-4) win means the world No 1 will now advance into Saturdays semi-finals where he will play sixth seed Kei Nishikori who beat Dominic Thiem 6-3 7-5, while Andy Murray will face lucky loser Lucas Pouille.Nadal had his chances to end a six-match losing streak against Djokovic but wasted a break advantage in the first set, then missed five set-point chances in the second. Novak Djokovics set point in the opener was majestic... Djokovic recovered from a break down to secure the opener in dramatic fashion. Nadal initially went 4-2 up against the serve, largely thanks to a drop shot that found a home three times in the early stages.Mid-way through the set, Djokovic began finding his rhythm and threatened with some trademark returns from the back of the court. He held a 10-minute game to remain 3-4 down before more excellent work from the back of the court earned Djokovic a break of his own.Djokovic led 6-5 heading into the final game but defeated Nadals serve in a pulsating manner. Another Nadal drop shot had him on course for 6-6, but Djokovic converted his fourth set point by winning an astonishing rally. Novak Djokovic lost his cool and threw his racket Nadal then crucially failed to convert five set points to force a decider. Leading 5-4 in the second set having broken Djokovics first service game, Nadal continued to put himself on the brink but could not cross the line.Djokovic saved all five set points and remarkably broke back before winning a thrilling tie-break 7-4 in a memorable demonstration of grit and athleticism from both players.Current Rome Masters champion Djokovic now has a 26-23 head-to-head record against Nadal.Watch the Rome semi-finals on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 1.30pm. Also See: As it happened Murray into Rome semis Tennis on Sky Get a NOW TV pass Air Max 720 Donna Scontate . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Vans Prezzo Basso . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.outletscarpesaldi.it/air-max-270-prezzo-basso.html . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Vapormax Donna Saldi . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Yeezy Boost 380 Italia . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Horse racing in Hong Kong. It sounds exotic, doesnt it? Actually, it is.On the second Sunday of December each year, Hong Kong racing and in particular Sha Tin racecourse takes the main stage of the global sport as the Longines Hong Kong International Races not only delivers a celebration of top-quality racing, but also a calendar year finale that packs plenty of punting punch.Apart from sanctioned betting on selected sporting events, horse racing has a virtual monopoly on the punting dollar. It isnt unusual for the win pool on the Tote-only betting facility to fly beyond the AU$5 million mark for even the lower graded races. It just shows how the twice-weekly racing programs in this major city sees literally every race being an event in itself.It isnt clouded, diluted or even drowned by a glut of other races before and after.Sydney-based trainer Gary Moore is no stranger to this part of the world. His family name is one of the most synonymous with the sport globally - his late father George was considered one of the worlds best jockeys and was recently elevated to legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.Despite having such a towering figure in the sport as your father, there doesnt seem to have been any great shadow hanging over the next generation. Should Garys charge Takedown win the AU$3.2 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), anyone looking on at the event will see a post-race celebration that would make even the most hardened of racing pundits smile.As he showed after Takedown won at Group 2 level in Sydney earlier this year, then after the success in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth a fortnight ago, Gary celebrates like no other: he jumps the fence, dances down the straight, waves his arms in delight, hugs the horse ... he even once planted a kiss on a male television presenters cheek, and doesnt hold back in saying how special it is to win at the highest level.Its emotion, joy, and I look up and think wow look what weve done. So I just like to show my feelings and I find it hard to contain myself, Moore told ESPN.Moores excitement with each win is quite the compliment to all of the events themselves given that, as a jockey, he won the worlds best race, the Prix de lArc de Triomphe in France in 1981 and was Hong Kongs premier jockey over seven seasons.It just means so much to me to accomplish this kind of success as a trainer, he said. Were on the world stage here. If I could pull it off then itll be a great result.Moore said his father was an undoubted influence on his career.Dad sent me away early to improve my riding. I couldnt ride much [very well] in the beginning and I only came good when I got to my 20s. Like a bottle of red wine, I got better with age, he chuckled.I never thought if it like that. I knew I had a famous father but I was still determined to succeed as a rider which I was lucky enough to be able to do.Takedown takes on an excellent field in the Sprint at Sha Tin on a card that boasts more than $15 million in prizemoney. There is little doubt that should he win, it will be well earned.Hes done fantastically well (since arriving in Hong Kong). He looked great on the track and the compliments about his appearance have been unbelievable. From barrier six, I think hes going to be hard to beat, Moore said.I still like the Japanese horse, Big Arthur. References have been made to Big Arthur being as good as (topline Japanese sprinnter) Lord Kanaloa.dddddddddddd. If that is the case, then were just running for a place. But he has to jump from barrier 13 and weve got a good gate to be able to take a prominent position in the run.Hes an amazing horse (Takedown). Hes traveled from Melbourne to Perth, then onto Hong Kong and still looks and is so well. What has stood us in good stead is that hes had 10 days to settle in.After spending most of his training life in Macau, a move to take on the tough Sydney training marketplace came about two years ago as Moore ticked into his sixties. He now returns to the Asian racing hub as a Group 1-winning trainer in Australia.Its an honour to be here. Ive had great success here. To come back to Hong Kong as a Group 1-winning trainer is something that I didnt expect to happen so quickly. Ive got the horse that has put me there and I just hope that he can perform to my expectations, Moore said.Takedown was invited to come to this race when he was still only a Group 2 winner. So since he won at Group 1 after that, it gives great face to the HKJCs foresight in inviting him.Not unlike many other successful modern day trainers, Moores racing business is just as strategic about winning races. It isnt just winning them, but which ones.A midweek maiden run at Doomben in Brisbane in July is a long way from the bright lights and cheers Hong Kong, but it is back toward his old stomping ground that even minor races like that play a role in bigger things to come.Host Win Legend started a $2.50 favourite for Moore on that day. With the horses Chinese owners on track for the race, it was apparent that Moore had made the trip from Sydney for a reason.As Host Win Legend bounded from the starting gates with jockey Luke Dittman pushing him vigoursly to an early lead over the sprint trip, and kicked away around the Doomben home turn to win, Moore was the most animated person the course may well have seen for a very long time.Go Baby! Go Baby! he shouted over the last 200 metres, which was as much about Moores pleasure of a plan coming together as it was about giving discerning Asian ownership confidence in what they had just seen.I said to Jason Tan, the owner, youve got a permit buy a horse to race in Hong Kong - why spend a lot of money in getting one when we can get this horse there for you, Moore recalled.I had to win that race, he said as the result saw the horses rating reach the required level to be accepted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club into their horse population.And so the strategy had delivered and Host Win Legend now races in Hong Kong as Magic Legend but is yet to have a start in his new home.It is all about taking on races that you can win, he said. Yesterday we had a winner at Goulburn, on Sunday we won a race a Hawkesbury. We are traveling around with the horsepower that we have. Well be racing at Rosehill on Saturday, back at Hawkesbury on Sunday and here in Hong Kong too.Theres a lot of planning and that is where Dad was such a great trainer too.I go to bed at night with the racing calendar.Come Sunday night, Gary Moore may well be taking some extra items with him as he drifts off into dreamland - a shiny prestige watch and a decent Hong Kong dollar cheque.And dont forget that celebration too. It may just become as legendary as his famous family name. ' ' '