Phil McEntee pays tribute as stable star Spare Parts bows out
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Spare Parts has been retired after suffering a career-ending injury at Lingfield on Wednesday.
The Phil McEntee-trained gelding damaged a tendon in the closing stages of a seven-furlong handicap and was pulled up by jockey Nicola Currie.
The popular all-weather performer was attended to at the Surrey track before being taken back to McEntee’s stables in Newmarket and was reported by the trainer to be ‘comfortable’ on Thursday.
“It’s horrible, but we had a great time with him last winter. Unfortunately yesterday he had quite a nasty injury to his tendon,” said McEntee.
“They did a brilliant job at the race track and the vets have been in today to have a look at him. He’s comfortable, he’s stable. It’s career-ending, but not life ending. It will be a long road to recovery.
“He will get the best care and attention and at some point down the line he’ll be a nice hack or something.
“He will have extensive box rest now.
“It will be a long process and it will be some time before he is ridden again, but he is only a five-year-old. In horse terms that’s nothing. He’s got years ahead of him. He will be well looked after.”
The son of Choisir gained a big following last winter when winning seven times between January and March which saw him nominated for the outstanding all-weather horse category at the Racehorse Owners Association Awards.
He was picked up for only 2,000 guineas out of Charlie Hills’ stable by owner Steve Jakes at Tattersalls Autumn Sales in October 2017.
“It was great when he ran on finals day at Lingfield last year,” said McEntee.
“In December we went to the ROA awards where he was nominated (in the) all-weather horse (category) which was great for myself, Steve Jakes and Nicola (Currie). We’d never had anything like that before.
“Horses like him don’t come along that often. His rating went from 49 to the 90s.
“Last year on that January card at Lingfield, he won the apprentice handicap with 10st 11lb on his back which hadn’t been done for decades, as far as I know.
“It was a monster weight-carrying performance.
“It was a tragedy and a real shame for us what happened yesterday, but he’s in his stable and is being well looked after.
“All the things he did for us were unbelievable and he only cost two grand.”
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