Champion jockey Nina Carberry says she doesn’t think she will win Dancing With The Stars.
Nina blew away the judges on Sunday night with her sexy rumba, with judge Loraine Barry left “tongue struck” by her performance.
But speaking to Ladbrokes, Nina said she won’t lift the glitterball trophy because she cannot put in the time as she’s busy looking after her horses.
Nina, who scored 25 points from the judges, said she won’t be as good as she was as she was able to practise for weeks before the show aired.
She said: “I don’t think I will win the competition though. It took me so long learn each of the first two dances and now there is only a week between each dance.
“I don’t have the six weeks build up anymore. I definitely won’t be as good as I was and I’m not expecting high marks. I am learning from scratch so I need the time, so I think it will get really tough for me. I have the horses to look after at home, so I can only practice in the evening and can’t put in the time that I would like to. There are a few dances that will suit me, and then a few that might not.”
But she said she was “completely blown away” by the judges comments, saying: “I honestly didn’t expect that at all. I was missing Pasquale for some of the training last week which wasn’t ideal so I didn’t know where I stood. It just all came together during the last rehearsal which is typical.
“I couldn’t get over my transformation, they made me into a different person altogether. It was mad thinking I even looked like that. Just looking at myself, I was like this isn’t me. The glam team do an amazing job backstage with costume/make-up/and hair. It’s class to be apart of the whole thing and it’s an experience in itself.”
Writer Cathy Kelly was the first celebrity eliminated from the Rte One show and Nina said she was “surprised” to see her go.
“I was surprised and sad to see Cathy Kelly go. She just put so much effort into the dancing. She was a great character on the show as well so we will miss her. The elimination is an awful feeling, especially when you are just standing there thinking who is going to be next. It is so nerve wrecking, but it is part of the show.
“It is movie week now and we get given a character in a film. We have to portray that character in the dance and I think they have chosen a good one for me. I guess there is now an added element to this weekend, because not only do I have to dance but I have to act as well. I am really looking forward to it though.”
