Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has followed teammate Michael Owen into the horse trade.

The Daily Mail says Rooney has splashed out on a new racehorse - and has chosen racing colours of pink with white sleeves and hooped cap, suggesting it could be an early Christmas present for wife Coleen.

The year-old colt is in training at the Cheshire stable of Rooney's team-mate Michael Owen and cost £63,000 at the Tattersall sales.

The Manchester United striker visited the stables on Monday and a spokesman said: "I can confirm Wayne and Coleen have bought the horse." The unnamed colt - son of sire Bahamian Bounty - could be racing by the spring.