TAPP’S CALL ON ALICE CUP TIP

AUSTRALIAN racing legend Johnny Tapp has tipped Lord Bouzeron for the Alice Springs Cup on Sunday.

The esteemed former racecaller stressed he liked several horses trained by Adelaide’s Michael Hickmott in the $110,000 race, but was not completely across the form.

“I had in mind Lord Bouzeron,” Tapp (pictured) said. “He seems to have the right form for this class ss of race, he just looks well placed. d.

“I’m flat out tipping a winnner in Sydney (though) on n my own turf . . . it will be even n harder at Alice Springs.”

He said the excellent prizemoney had attracted strong interstate contenders.

“It’s a worthwhile race, you’ve got these interstate representation. It’s worth their while,” he said.

He was coy when admitting he had not visited the Alice in almost 25 years. He was last there the week after his illustrious career ended in August 1998.

“I’m almost embarrassed to say this is my first time in Alice Springs in 24 years,” said Tapp, who was the star attraction at the Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup luncheon on Friday. “And it was nothing to do with racing, mate. I did my last race call and before I settled into my new role at Sky Channel as a studio host, I decided to take 10 days off with my wife, Ann.”

He remembers catching The Ghan from Adelaide. “But not the one you see now, it was the old rattler,” he said. “We went to Kakadu and Kings Canyon.” Tapp says that for several years after his retirement he occasionally had itchyfeet before befo the big races, especially in Sydney. Sydn

“(I’d) feel a little bit of anticipation whenever they were about to jump in a Golden Slipper or one of the big Sydney races. I sometimes wished was still there,” he said.

“But I’ve settled into an acceptance of the fact my racedays are well over.”

That being said, it appears as if Tapp, 81, is busier than ever.

After retiring from Sky in 2015, he started racing website John Tapp Racing four years ago. It was meant to provide him up to five hours of work a week while staying plugged into the sport.

“It’s developed into a much bigger project than I expected. It’s pretty much fulltime,” he said.