Tyre kickers, interloping influencers and a superpower’s adopted son leave me with a sense of London Sale deja vu
James Thomas's latest sales diary comes from an afternoon spent at the Goffs London Sale at Kensington Palace Gardens

I’ve been experiencing a creeping sense of deja vu of late. Each time I’ve stepped out the front door over the past week I’ve been confronted by the same sight: hordes of people wearing cowboy hats, cowboy boots and, in some instances, denim hotpants. Men and women alike. Each to their own.
Admittedly I live in a part of the People’s Republic of Hackney that attracts those with a penchant for dressing flamboyantly. And all the better for it. Even if the humble sales correspondent doesn’t exactly fit in. I’m no fashionista, but I’m not sure a Schoffel gilet goes with the cowboy get up. Nevermind denim hot pants. Picture that at your peril.
Anyway, it turns out all the cowboy attire wasn’t just a wacky new trend as a quick Google search revealed two things that I hadn’t previously known. Firstly, that Beyonce had released a country album, and secondly that she was performing said album over a six-night run just up the road at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The hottest ticket in town, no doubt.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inNews
Last updated
- Ballydoyle's Storm Boy heading back to Australia to stand for $16,500 after being retired
- 'Eclectic' group of owners eyeing ambitious goals with progressive Arqana buy Magical Hope
- 'I keep rewatching the race because she keeps winning' - Coolmore's Garden Of Eden delivers breeder Hanly a dream result
- John and Thady Gosden narrowly beat Aidan O'Brien to win leading trainers award at Royal Ascot
- Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee hero Lazzat helps sire on fire Australia notch a notable Royal Ascot Group 1 double
- Ballydoyle's Storm Boy heading back to Australia to stand for $16,500 after being retired
- 'Eclectic' group of owners eyeing ambitious goals with progressive Arqana buy Magical Hope
- 'I keep rewatching the race because she keeps winning' - Coolmore's Garden Of Eden delivers breeder Hanly a dream result
- John and Thady Gosden narrowly beat Aidan O'Brien to win leading trainers award at Royal Ascot
- Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee hero Lazzat helps sire on fire Australia notch a notable Royal Ascot Group 1 double