[2] Collier Bay's dam, Cockatoo Island, was a descendant of Sun Stream, a mare who won the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks for a former Earl of Derby in 1945.

Collier Bay was originally sent into training with the leading flat trainer John Gosden at Stanley House Stables in Newmarket, England.

[5] Collier Bay was gelded and prepared for a National Hunt career at Old's stables at Upper Herdswick Farm near Barbury Castle in Wiltshire.

On his seasonal debut he was moved up in class, but finished last of the four runners behind Large Action in the Grade Two Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury.

In March, Collier Bay was sent to Sandown to contest the Imperial Cup, a handicap hurdle for which he was assigned a weight of 142 pounds.

[9] Collier Bay's win was almost ignored, as the crowd and media focused their attention on the popular Danoli, who was returning after a career-threatening injury.

Shortly before the race, Bradley was dismissed by Alderbrook's trainer, Kim Bailey, when the jockey failed to appear to ride the horse in an exercise gallop.

Racing on soft ground, Collier Bay was the 9/1 fourth choice in the betting for the Champion Hurdle behind Alderbrook (10/11), Danoli (5/1) and Mysilv (7/1).

[12] After a break of almost eleven months, during which he escaped without injury when fire swept through Jim Old's stable,[3] Collier Bay returned in February 1997 at Towcester.

In the 1998/9 National Hunt season, Collier Bay was switched from hurdles to compete over larger obstacles in Novice Chases.

[14] Hopes that Collier Bay would develop into a top class steeplechaser however, were not fulfilled as health problems restricted him to only four races in the next two years.