Thermal, California, USA – February 13, 2025 – Kyle King (USA) kicked off his birthday celebrations one day early with a win aboard Ezio de Emeraud in the $32,000 BrainJuice Welcome Speed CSI 3* on Thursday, February 13, at Desert Circuit 6, presented by Premier Equestrian.

A field of 30 entries took on the speed track, set on the Desert International Horse Park’s Grass Field and designed by Ireland’s Colm Quinn. Of those entries, King and Ezio de Emeraud were the 22nd pair to jump, and when they took to the field, Irish riders sat in all three of the top spots. Heading the leaderboard with a time of 69.28 seconds were David O’Brien (IRL) and El Balou Old – a duo that had held the lead for much of the class.

However, with Ezio de Emeraud’s large stride on King’s side, O’Brien’s lead would not last any longer. King and “Ezio” cruised over the final lime green Brainjuice oxer and straight into the lead with a time of 68.85 seconds. That time held up for the victory, while O’Brien and El Balou Old, owned by Chansonette Farm, took home second.

Mark Kinsella (IRL) and Conor Swail helped the Irish sweep second through fourth place, with Kinsella and Casira, owned by Marisa Metzger, finishing in third, and Swail and One Edition, owned by Vanessa Mannix, taking home fourth.

“Ezio is a pretty cool horse,” said King of the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned and bred by Patricia Vasey. “He is the brother to Odysseus who is usually my partner in these big classes. They’re both out of the same mare (Unfettered), who I believe never jumped, but she’s produced the two horses that are two of my most competitive.”

Ezio has been in King’s training program for roughly a year and a half, with King taking over the ride at the end of the 2024 Desert Circuit season as the gelding began to step up the ranks.

“He’s so brave, and he’s so bold,” continued King. “We kind of just kept sticking him in classes a little bit over his head, but he has just handled it and mentally handled it. He’s starting to catch on. Today, he was right on. He’s coming along really well. He is a beautiful jumper…I’m really excited to have the ride on him.”

Final Results – $32,000 BrainJuice Welcome Speed CSI 3*

1) Kyle King (USA) & Ezio de Emeraud – 0 – 68.85

2) David O’Brien (IRL) & El Balou Old – 0 – 69.28

3) Mark Kinsella (IRL) & Casira – 0 / 0 – 69.82

Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park

Photos: © DIHP / High Desert Photo / MG Photography

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