Tee it up! Trump looking for major success from horses named after golf stars

Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler will be spending plenty of time away from the links in favour of racecourses in the upcoming months, after American owner Brian Trump named three of his juveniles after the famous golfers.

Trump, a golfing enthusiast, is the founder of ownership operation Supreme Racing – a separate entity to the troubled Irish namesake – and is aiming for a hole in one with Koepka, Mickelson and Fowler.

No relation to another golf fan, currently the incumbent of the White House, Trump said: "Koepka is my most physically impressive horse. Much like Brooks, he is gifted with an athletic frame.

"Coupled with what has been described as confidence out on the track, I couldn’t have come up with a better fit than naming the horse after Brooks."

Bob Baffert: will train both Koepka and Mickelson for Supreme RacingCredit: Mario Tama

On the golf course Koepka is currently world number one and a four-time major champion, after a pair of victories at both the US Open (2017, 2018) and the US PGA (2018, 2019).

Trump rates Mickelson – named after the legendary left-handed five-time major champion – as having Triple Crown aspirations and has placed the juvenile as well as Koepka with two-time Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert.

"Mickelson the horse reminds me a bit of Phil in his personality,” Trump said. "Like Phil, he tends to have a playful demeanour. Phil always seems to be having fun out on the course.

"Whether it's setting a record for most thumbs up in a round of golf on a single day or interacting with fans, he always seems to make people laugh and smile.

"Mickelson the horse has that same playfulness. He loves to play in the barn and always makes you smile when you're around him."

Trump has been in contact with Mickelson's brother and caddie, Tim, and is hoping to host the brothers to watch Mickelson race in the near future.

Rickie Fowler has eight Major top fives, including three seconds, on his CVCredit: Kevin C. Cox

The most diminutive of the three – both on the track and the course – Fowler has been sent to trainer Brad Cox but Trump confirmed the two-year-old would not be adorned in the same familiar orange as his golfing namesake.

"The colour of the felt is out of the owner’s hands," Trump said. "He's not going to have a Puma logo anywhere either. We're hoping he develops into a silent assassin like Rickie."

In the past, other horses under Supreme's ownership have been named after baseball star Clayton Kershaw, New England Patriots' wide receiver Julien Edleman, Kim Kardashian and Bobby Axelrod, a character from HBO show Billions.

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