A NEW Forest-based businessman will fulfil his late brother's dream when he saddles a runner in one of the world's richest horse races tonight.

Chris Ransom, from Burley, sends his charge Joe Bear to compete in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes over 10 furlongs at the Arlington racetrack in Chicago.

The three-year-old will run in the prestigious Group One contest in memory of Paul Ransom who died in a swimming accident while on holiday with his wife Sally in Spain in September 2000.

Paul, who was 36, had always harboured ambitions to own a racehorse and the opportunity to buy the colt - foaled in the year of his death - presented itself to his older brother Chris last year.

Since acquiring the horse, the Ransom family have seen it chalk up three eye-catching victories, prompting Epsom-based trainer Philip Mitchell and winning jockeys Kieren Fallon and Darryl Holland to suggest the middle-distance star is good enough to step up to Group company.

Chris Ransom, who runs a design and marketing agency with offices in Southampton and London, flew to Chicago with his wife Phillipa on Thursday to watch the race which is being shown live on Sky's attheraces.

Before he left, he told the Daily Echo: "Joe Bear is taking us on the most wonderful adventure and we are going to Chicago dreaming the impossible and taking absolutely nothing for granted.

"It was our plan to go to America next year, but Joe Bear's performances so far this season have earned him the chance to fight with the big boys far earlier in his career than we expected.

"He is a very special horse and this is a big step up in class, but he is a far more talented horse than the racing world has yet been exposed to.

"I decided to follow my heart and bought the colt as it was a dream of Paul's to own his own racehorse. To have a horse running in his name gave the whole family a focus and a reason to go racing together in a meaningful and very emotional way.

"Paul acquired the nickname Joe Bear in the early 1970s when the heavyweight boxing scene was at its height with Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Joe Bugner.

"After big fights, we would re-enact the action as kids and Paul always wanted to be Joe Bugner. When he got into trouble on the ropes, he would always use his ultimate weapon of strength, his legendary bear hug - and the ring name Joe Bear was born.

"I remember a picture published in the Echo of Paul playing in a big rugby match for Bournemouth which Sally still has on her wall today. It was so Paul and so Joe Bear."

Joe Bear will again be piloted by top English jockey Holland and is one of three representatives in the race from Britain, the other two being American Derby winner Evolving Tactics and the Aiden O'Brien-trained mount France, runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

And although an outsider to land the spoils tonight, Joe Bear certainly has the pedigree to spring a surprise having been sired in Ireland by Peintre Celebre who holds the record for winning the Arc de Triomphe in the fastest time in history.