Thermal, CA – March 8, 2025 – After several winters spent competing on the East Coast, Jos Verlooy made the decision to begin showing instead on the West Coast at the Desert International Horse Park, and based on results alone, the Belgian rider is likely to be glad that he did. On Friday, March 7, Verlooy and FTS Killossery Konfusion continued their successful season in Thermal, CA, with victory in the $63,000 BRAINWATER CSI3* Welcome Speed at Desert Circuit 9.
“First of all, it’s better weather here than in Belgium!” said Verlooy. “I heard many positive things about Thermal. I did Wellington a few years, but I think for my horses that I have now, it’s better to come over here.”
Verlooy continued, “[FTS Killossery Konfusion] is just a great horse. He’s so competitive. He always wants to do his best. He knows what he has to do is leave the rails up and just knows the game. I’m so happy I’m able to ride him.”
When Verlooy and “Konfusion” took to the Grass Field on Friday morning, the Welcome Speed time to beat had been previously set at 64.43 seconds by Ireland’s Conor Swail and My Lady Lavista.
“I knew a bit what Conor’s round was, and I knew a bit the strides we had to do,” said Verlooy. “I know [Konfusion] is naturally fast, and I know there was a lot of rails falling down during the class.”
In speaking of the track designed by Julien Pradervand, Verlooy continued, “It was, I find, quite technical. I don’t think there was so many clears in the end, so I just thought I’d do my own round. I just keep the turns short and then I’ll see where I end up. Lucky enough, it was my day, and I ended up first!”
Verlooy and Konfusion, owned by Euro Horse BVBA, cleared the timers in 62.73 seconds to take home the win. Swail and My Lady Lavista, owned by Cherokee Show Horses, finished in second, and New Zealand’s Katie Laurie finished in third with a time of 66.60 seconds aboard her own Django 2.
Verlooy will now set his sights on the highlight jumper event of Desert Circuit 9, Saturday afternoon’s $117,000 Marshall + Sterling CSI3* Grand Prix. To view complete results from the $63,000 BRAINWATER CSI3* Welcome Speed, click here, and for a full competition schedule, click here.
