Top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry hopes Kayla Nisbet will return to racing after a three-month sabbatical and says the Canberra hoop is as talented as group 1-winners Kathy O'Hara and Michelle Payne.
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Struggling with motivation and battling to maintain her weight, Nisbet has opted to take three months off over spring to implement a fitness regime and consider her future.
The 20-year-old will also use the time to do a marketing traineeship through Racing Victoria. She will continue to ride trackwork for Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher.
Berry backed Nisbet's decision to take time off and said the timing was perfect as it was difficult for apprentice jockeys to find rides during Melbourne's spring carnival.
Nisbet burst onto the Melbourne scene when she switched from riding for her father, John, to David Hayes' stables in Euroa, Victoria, but she broke her foot and wrist late last year. The injuries resulted in her slipping down the pecking order.
"I'd love her to [come back], she's a very talented rider, a very talented female rider especially," Berry said.
"A lot of females don't get a go in racing, but they're starting to now and I believe she's got what it takes and I enjoy watching her ride and being part of her success.
"I believe if Kayla got the right opportunities ... she could be the next Kathy O'Hara or Michelle Payne."
Berry said being an apprentice jockey was tough. He said the constant wasting to maintain weight took a physical toll, but it was additionally tough for those starting out as they did not have the carrot of riding in big races.
Berry will ride Gai Waterhouse's The Offer in Saturday's Caulfield Cup (2400 metres). The gelding is one of the favourites for next month's $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Berry has sent Nisbet his diet, which consists of consuming fruit and water, complemented by lots of swimming and walking. But he said everyone was different and Nisbet would need to find what worked for her.
"It takes a good horse and something to look forward to to help you stick to a diet, it's a lot easier to stick to if you've got a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
"Kayla didn't have much light at the end of her tunnel at this stage ... when you're off for a long time it's hard to get back in the swing of it with getting good rides again."
Berry said starting from barrier 19 would make it tough for The Offer in the Caulfield Cup, but the main aim was still the Melbourne Cup on November 4.
The Offer finished strongly to be sixth in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) behind the impressive Lucia Valentina on October 4.
Berry thought if there was a bit of give in the Caulfield track the son of Montjeu should put in a good run.
Stepping up to 2400m should also suit; it was the distance that started The Offer's hat-trick of comfortable Sydney wins during the autumn.
He saluted in the group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m), the group 2 Chairman's Handicap (2600m) and then the group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
The Offer will undergo a veterinary check on Saturday after showing signs of lameness during the week.
"If it's a dead track I think he'll be a great chance, we've just got to get a bit of luck from the barrier," Berry said.
"His grand final is the Melbourne Cup so I'd just like to see him run in the first three or four, that'd be nice."
