Messier, the heralded racehorse, has many of the traits of his famous namesake

He's named after one of pro hockey's biggest stars but Tom Ryan says Messier, the heralded thoroughbred, shares more than just the same moniker as the six-time Stanley Cup champion.

Ryan, the managing partner of SF Bloodstock/SF Racing LLC — which has an ownership stake in the three-year-old colt — should know.

Watch the Kentucky Derby with Messier coming out of the sixth post LIVE this Saturday with coverage beginning on TSN4, TSN.ca, the TSN App and on TSN Direct at 4pm et/1pm pt.

His father-in-law, Pat Hughes, was a member of the Edmonton Oilers' 1984 and '85 Stanley Cup-winning teams, playing alongside both Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. And an uncle is none other than Mark Napier, who also played for the '85 championship squad.

Ryan met Messier during a celebration in Edmonton after the 1984-85 Oilers were voted as the NHL's all-time best team in 2017.

"Obviously Mark Messier's story is a tremendous one," said the Irish-born Ryan. "One Stanley Cup is a dream for any hockey player but to win six is a remarkable feat.

"Mark Messier has the look of a great racehorse. He has strength in the right places, he's well balanced and has power. When you look at Messier, the horse, he's an intimidating figure. First, he catches your eye and secondly, you're drawn to his balance and sheer size."

But what can't be seen also makes Messier special.

"He has that intelligent look in his eye," Ryan said. "People might underestimate intelligence in an animal but they shouldn't, it's very important.

"You need a horse that isn't intimidated, you need a horse that enjoys racing, you need a horse that has the appetite to go through a hole that sometimes it needs to fight for. We see all of those things in Messier."

Messier has won three