A super slick sprinter, Zephyr Bay held the Randwick 1000m record for a remarkable 35 years

An outstanding sprinter in the mid 1970s, ZEPHYR BAY retired to stud in 1975 with 9 wins from 22 starts, including the VATC Oakleigh Plate, AJC Challenge Stakes and AJC Expressway Stakes. Incredibly, he held the 1000 metres Randwick course record for an incredible 35 years, but injury did curtail his career. 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. Zephyr Bay was purchased by former bush trainer Bert Lyell on behalf of Bob Miller at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 1972 for $16,000.

The narrative surrounding BISCAY's racing and initial stud career is truly exceptional. Biscay demonstrated remarkable early speed in his competitive engagements. Trained by Angus Armanasco in Melbourne for owner/breeder Stanley Wootton, he arrived in Sydney to contest the Golden Slipper Stakes in 1968. He was a short-priced favourite at prohibitive odds. History proclaims that Scone-bred ROYAL PARMA won the race in style while Biscay compounded to run fourth. He was branded a ‘speedy squib’, but Biscay later redeemed himself with some explosive wins as a three-year-old and proved himself to the fastest sprinter in the land. During his inaugural year at stud, BISCAY did not achieve significant industry recognition. In the 1969 breeding season, he covered 19 mares at 'Baramul', six of whom were subsequently exported to the USA in 1970. ZEPHYR BAY, BLETCHINGLY, SCARLET KINGDOM and TANGENT were among the products of this first crop.

Coal black and brilliantly fast, ZEPHYR BAY became known as the "black flash" long before Lonhro was a twinkle in his fathrs eye, winning top sprint races and setting numerous course records as an amazingly swift sprinter. He was often ridden throughout his career by Grahame Horselman and Roy Higgins. Racing as a two-year-old in the 1972/73 season under the tutelage of trainer Bert Lyell, Zephyr Bay won twice before coming second to the very sharp Tommy Smith sprinter IMAGELE by 2-1/2 lengths in the STC Todman Stakes, with the previouly unbeaten Cummings horse TONTONAN finishing up in third place 3-1/2 lengths further away. In the Todman Stakes, Zephyr Bay suffered from a suspected splint under his knee and was sent out to spell.

After spending almost 12 months away from the track and missing most of the 2YO features such as the Golden Slipper, Zephyr Bay came back into the care of Sydney trainer Cyril Kearns, with Rosehill trainer Bert Lyell sadly passing away. Kearns had trained a cheap, but good horse in SANDY'S HOPE, who won the Doomben Cup in 1968 by two lengths and also won the AJC Summer Cup and the Tattersall's Club Cup in 1969 after standing up the tearaway leader PIRATE BIRD by at least thirty lengths at the half mile to win by a neck ridden by George Moore. It was a real fairy tale career as Sandy's Hope has been purchased as an unraced gelding by two mates for $460 at the Cowra sale yards.

The highlights of ZEPHYR BAY's 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 in 1:03.10 ridden by Horselman and culminating in the Gr.1 VATC Oakleigh Plate (1:03.10) ridden by Higgins, setting a course record in each win. Carrying a weight of 57kg in the Oakleigh, Zephyr Bay held off AURELIUS (50.5kg) by 2-1/2 lengths for an impressive victory.

The Randwick course record of 56.20 seconds set by Zephyr Bay when winning the 1000m AJC Challenge Stakes endured for 35 years until 2010, when DE LIGHTNING RIDGE lowered it to 55.92 seconds. The track was in the most optimal condition it had been in for several years. EDUARDO superseded the Randwick 1000m record of 55.20 seconds, set in 2021. Zephyr Bay's final race was in the 1975 AJC Galaxy, where he sustained a tendon injury and was subsequently retired from racing. In 1975, Zephyr Bay was retired to stud in New Zealand.

Commencing his stud career at Balcarres Stud in Matamata, he subsequently relocated to 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. Despite the challenge of low fertility, Zephyr Bay displayed remarkable success as a sire. He sired 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%). Among his top performers were ZEPHYR ZIP, JUDENA, GLAMOUR BAY, BROAD REACH, FULL AND BY, ZEPHERIN, ELOUNDA BAY and SOCIETY BAY. He also sired ZEPHYR SOUBA who as a broodmare produced the classy NATURALISM.

RACE RECORD - 22: 9-6-2

EARNINGS - $67,510

Oakleigh Plate (1975)

Challenge Stakes (1975)

Expressway Stakes (1975)