Nina Carberry reckons fellow female jockey Rachael Blackmore would be the ideal contender to win Dancing With the Stars.
The 37-year-old said champion jockey Rachael’s historic win at Aintree topped off a magnificent year – and she would lead the pack on the dancefloor too.
RTE reality show frontrunner Nina said while she and Katie Walsh may have paved the way for Rachael, the Tipperary woman bagged some incredible wins in 2021.
Nina said: “Myself and Katie both came in at the same time, there wasn’t many girls before us that were riding against the professionals that much.
“We both rode winners at Cheltenham and Irish Grand National winners so we probably helped Rachael get the opportunities she needed to show what she could do, and getting in with the right owners.
“I hope we made a difference that way. It’s incredible that she went through that glass ceiling and broke it and it’s done now.”
Asked if Rachael should be top of the DWTS wishlist next year, she replied: “Yeah, I think she should; she has the rhythm and physique in a way.
“I think she’d do very well if she put her hand to it.”
Mum-of-two Nina admitted even her closest friends were “shocked” at her decision to do DWTS and “shocked that I was a different person each week”.
She added: “Especially doing the rumba the second week, I shocked myself being a different person.
“That’s been really interesting, people say it to me, but I’m delighted that I’m able to portray different parts of me.”
Married to Ted Walsh Jnr, Nina is part and parcel of the racing fraternity, but will have to miss Cheltenham if she stays the distance on the show.
She said: “It’ll be interesting to see if I’m in one of the dance-offs, that could be a bit of pressure.
“But yeah, I’ll probably miss Cheltenham this year if I stay in the competition.
“I didn’t get to go last year because of Covid, it’ll be disappointing if I don’t get to go.
“It’s just one of those things. I’d love to be going but I can’t compete, it’s different having a horse riding in it as opposed to being a spectator.”
Nina said she’s not worried about the outfits getting skimpier on the show as riding out and training keeps her slim and her arms toned.
She said: “It’s incredible the work the girls do backstage, they’d do anything for you.
“If you felt a bit uncomfortable, they’d put something else on; they do a brilliant job.
“As well on the hair and make-up too, they turn you inside out to make you the best you can be on the show.”
Dancing With the Stars continues on RTE One tonight at 6.30pm when the two lowest scoring contestants will face the first live dance-off.
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