Zephyr Bay was bred by Lionel Israel at his Segenhoe Stud near Scone in New South Wales. He was born in 1970 from the first crop of the Star Kingdom stallion Biscay, out of the Pan II mare Heavenly Wind.[2]
Zephyr Bay was purchased by horse trainer Bert Lyell on behalf of Bob Miller at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 1972 for $16,000.00.[3]
Racing career
Coal black and brilliantly fast Zephyr Bay became known as the "black flash" winning top sprint races and setting numerous course records.[4] He was often ridden throughout his career by Grahame Horselman[5] and Roy Higgins.[6]
Zephyr Bay raced as a two-year-old in the 1972/73 season under trainer Bert Lyell. He won twice before coming in second to Imagele in the STC Todman Stakes. In the STC Todman Stakes Zephyr Bay suffered from a splint under his knee and was sent out to spell.[7]
After spending almost 12 months spelling, Zephyr Bay came back into the care of trainer Cyril Kearns, Bert Lyell having died.[8] The highlights of his three-year-old career were second placings in the STC George Ryder Stakes and the AJC Galaxy.
Zephyr Bay's four-year-old season during 1974/75 proved to be the peak of his racing career. He achieved victories in the AJC Challenge Stakes, followed by the AJC Expressway Stakes and culminating in the Group 1 VATC Oakleigh Plate. Setting a course record in each win.[9] The course record Zephyr Bay set winning the AJC Challenge Stakes would last 35 years until 2010.[10]
Zephyr Bay's final race was in the AJC Galaxy where he injured a tendon and was retired from racing.[11]
Stud record
In 1975, Zephyr Bay was retired to stud in New Zealand.[12] First standing at Balcarres Stud at Matamata, later Waikato Stud before being repatriated to Australia in 1987 to stand at Carrington Stud in the Hunter Valley and then Great Missenden Stud in Victoria.[13][14]
Zephyr Bay, although hampered by poor fertility proved an exceptional sire. He sired only 250 foals over 17 years at stud and produced 141 winners from 181 runners (78%), 22 stakes winners (12%), and 7 Group 1 winners (4%).[15] Among his top performers were:
