Text © World of Showjumping

Luca Marziani's top horse Tokyo du Soleil (Montender x Papillon Rouge) has been sold, and will in the future be seen under the 21-year-old Japanese rider Mike Kawai. 

With Marziani in the saddle, the wonderful 12-year-old stallion has had a hugely successful career. The pair competed at the World Equestrian Games in 2018, at the European Championships in 2017 and 2019 as well as at two Longines FEI Nations Cups Finals. They have delivered many double clear rounds in Nations Cups for Italy, and were on the winning Italian team at Piazza di Siena in Rome in 2018. This year, the two were 4th in the CSI5* LGCT Grand Prix in Rome and 6th in the CSIO5* Grand Prix at Piazza di Siena. They also won the CSI3* Grand Prix in Montefalco, Italy back in May. 

“To me and my career, Tokyo has meant everything,” Marziani comments to World of Showjumping. “I have had him since he was a 4-year-old, and we went all the way together. Through Tokyo, my childhood dreams came true and he fulfilled every goal I set for myself. Thanks to Tokyo, I got to know the sport that I love in the best possible way, I got to join the highest level and stay there for long time. It’s been a great journey, also in understanding what a horse needs to stay at that level. Tokyo has made a real mark on my career!”

“I really have so many good memories with him. Sport wise, the win in the Nations Cup in Rome in 2018 is one of the best – not just for the victory but the atmosphere that surrounded Tokyo and me, the energy between us on that particular day. That day was the first time that I already during the morning warm-up felt we would not make any mistakes. Overall, the best memory that will stay with me is to have been able to feel the energy between two athletes – a horse and a rider – and feel that energy that make us invincible,” Marziani continues. 

“For the future, I have a great desire to start again from the beginning with other young and talented horses. I would like to once again get to experience the strong emotions that I had with Tokyo. I know it will happen, I believe in myself and I have people close to me who believe in me. For now, I hope Tokyo will fulfil his Olympic dream, for me that would really be the right ending to one of most beautiful stories in the equestrian world,” Marziani concludes.