Amandori, the horse with which Japanese former team rider Yuko Kitai aimed for the Paris Olympic Games, has been allocated to Under 25 rider Yurie Yoshida.
Amandori is a 13-year old Saxonian/Thuringian warmblood by Ampere out of Niobe (by Ra). He is bred at the Saxonian state stud in Graditz and was owned by Graditz in partnership with Gestut Sprehe.
Licensed Stallion
The bay was licensed as a 3-year old at the South German Stallion Licensing in Munich in January 2014, but he did not do a stallion performance test. Instead the stallion was focused on sport. He has no offspring registered with the German equestrian federation.
Amandori's sport career took a later start in 2016 when the horse was 5. He competed first under Elsa Maulet until 2017.
In 2019 Amandori made his show debut under Australian Simone Pearce at the local show in Wietmarschen at S* level. She rode him at small tour that year at a few competitions and by December 2019 moved him up to Grand Prix. He was Pearce's second iron in the fire for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Their international show debut was in Achleiten in the Intermediaire II and then they went to the CDI's in Le Mans, Ornago and Achleiten.
Yuko Kitai
In the summer of 2021 Amandori sold to equestrian center La Hacienda in Japan, owned by Osamu Kitai, father to Grand Prix rider Yuko Kitai. The bay was intended to be her 2022 WEG and 2024 Olympic hopeful.
Kitai has represented Japan at the 2008 and 2016 Olympic Games on Rambo and Don Loreon. She also competed at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
The new duo debuted at the 2022 CDI Mannheim but retired in the Grand Prix. Two weeks later they showed in Hagen, followed by Hamburg, and Exloo but did not get selected for Japanese WEG Team. In 2023 they campaigned in Lier, Aachen, Tolbert, Exloo; Grote Brogel, Bialy Las, Hagen and Herning. The latter event in October 2023 was their last.
After hosting the 2021 Olympic Games, Japan was unable to secure a team or individual slot for the 2024 Olympics
Yuri Yoshida
"My challenge to the Paris Olympics in Dori was not easy, but Yuri Yoshida is starting her journey to the 2026 Asian Games" said Kitai. "I believe that Yuri will make her dream come true at the 2026 Asian Games with my dream that I didn't realize."
The horse sold to "new owner Mr and Mrs M(asamune).'
Yoshida is the 2023 Japanese Young Riders Champion on on Grandeur, the 12-year old KWPN gelding by Charmeur x Krack C, previously shown by Italian Beatrice Arturi. She has also been competing in Europe at Under 25 level with Hexagon's Conquest (by Rubiquil x Weltmeyer II). She recently bought the 13-year old Bavarian gelding Dark Diamond (by Destano x Rohdiamant).
Photos © Astrid Appels - private
Related Links
Amandori Sold to Yuko Kitai
Arturi's Under 25 Ride Dark Diamond Sold to Japan
Murakoshi, Sato, Yoshida Win 2023 Japanese Youth Riders Championships