Zephyr Bay
| Zephyr Bay | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Biscay |
| Grandsire | Star Kingdom |
| Dam | Heavenly Wind |
| Damsire | Pan II |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1970 |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | Mr Lionel Israel |
| Owner | Mrs Marvelle Miller |
| Trainer | Mr Bert Lyell, Mr Cyril Kearns |
| Record | 22: 9-6-2 |
| Earnings | A$67,510 |
| Major wins | |
| 1975 Oakleigh Plate 1975 AJC Challenge Stakes 1975 AJC Expressway Stakes | |
Zephyr Bay was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion.
An outstanding sprinter in the mid 1970s, Zephyr Bay retried to stud in 1975 with 9 wins including the Oakleigh Plate, Challenge Stakes and Expressway Stakes. He held the Randwick Racecourse course record over 1000m for 35 years.
Breeding
Zephyr Bay was bred by Mr 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.
Zephyr Bay was purchased by horse trainer Mr Bert Lyell on behalf Mr Bob Miller at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 1972 for $16,000.00
Racing Career
Coal black and brilliantly fast Zephyr Bay became known as the "black flash" winning top sprinting races and setting numerous course records. He was mostly ridden throughout his career by Roy Higgins.
Zephyr Bay raced as a two year old in the 1972/73 season under trainer Bert Lyell. He won twice before coming second to Imagele in the STC Todman Stakes G3 before going shin sore.
After spending almost 12 months spelling Zephyr Bay came back in the care of trainer Cyril Kearns, Bert Lyall having untimely passed away. The highlights of his three year old career were second placings in the STC George Ryder Stakes and The 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 Oakleigh Plate. Setting a course record in each win. The course record Zephyr Bay set winning the AJC Challenge Stakes would last 35 years until 2010.
Zephyr Bay's final race was in The Galaxy where he injured a tendon and was retired from racing.
Stud Record
In 1975 Zephyr Bay was retired to Stud in New Zealand. 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.
Zephyr Bay, although hampered by poor fertility proved an exceptional sire. He sired only 250 foals over 17 years at stud he produced 141 winners from 181 runners (78%), 22 stakes winners (12%), and 7 Group 1 winners (3.9%). Among his top performers were:
- Zephyr Zip (AJC Sires Produce Stakes)
- Judena (WRC New Zealand St. Leger)
- Glamour Bay (WRC New Zealand Oaks)
- Broad Reach (BATC Doomben 10,000)
- Full & By (AJC Champagne Stakes)
- Zepherin (WRC New Zealand Oaks)
- Elounda Bay (VRC Newmarket Handicap)