Fuente Ymbro bulls for Juan José
Padilla, Pepe Moral & Jiménez Fortes.
Pamplona is one of Juan José Padilla’s talismanic rings. His jovial
bravery chimes well with the boisterous peñas and Padilla has never been one to
shirk the big, tough bulls of the northern feria. This helps give some context to explain the
thunderous welcome Padilla received from Pamplona today; Padilla reciprocated.
He triumphed in the only way he knows, by giving his all in each toro and
creating a spectacle through spectacular (though not profound) toreo.
Padilla received the first bull of the afternoon with no less than four
larga cambiadas de rodillas. The bull charged well at the capotes, and Padilla
made the best of it; a quite by navarras, some delaales and a galleo to the
horse. It was not memorable toreo, but it was well received. After an
acceptable tercio de banderillas, Padilla performed one of his typical faenas.
That is, inconsistent, but surprisingly pleasing fundamental toreo, capped with
a populist arrimón. I can live without the desplantes on his knees and the
circulares, however, communicating with one’s audience is a necessary skill for
a performance artist, and Padilla has his quality in spades. I would much
rather recall a very well timed series of long low derechazos that, although
short, was meritorious, and some naturales de frente that served as a short
tribute to Manolo Vazquez. The bull was classy, but failed to readily repeat
charges; Padilla was correct in gaining a pass between each muletazos when
necessary in order to ensure that its charge was continuous. A solid estocada
gave him an ear.
Padilla cut another ear from his second bull in order to secure the
puerta grande. Once again, Padilla was active with the cape, performing a larga
cabiada and a series of acceptable veronicas to welcome the bull into the
arena, some delantales to take the bull to the horse, and a quite by
chicuelinas. Padilla’s desire to please
was more noteworthy than his toreo. Another formulaic tercio de banderillas
served to focus the crowd’s attention on the ring after their mid-corrida
snack; the pair al violin usually conveys little emotion to me, but the public
love it. Who am I to argue with them? The bull arrived at the muleta with his
strength in tact and a vibrant charge. Padilla was able to temper the bravura
with well-timed toreo en redondo. His naturales were particularly low, slow and
smooth. The faena was perhaps too inconsistent to be truly moving, but it was
perfectly enjoyable. The bull’s charge was not as frank on its right horn, but
Padilla solved this problem by resorting to a desplante. The molinetes and
pases de pecho de rodillas, finished with another desplante on his knees,
served to ignite the crowd enough for them to petition for another ear
notwithstanding the pinchazo prior to the estocada.
The two orejas that Padilla cut today pale in comparison with those earned
by Miguel Ángel Perera yesterday; Padilla triumphed by performing for the
crowd, Perera by toreando a pair of tough bulls. I know which route to triumph
I prefer, but I cannot deny that Padilla moved a great deal of people to
applaud and cheer his work today – life’s too short to piss on their bonfire. There
is no harm enjoying and valuing Padilla for what he is: a popular torero that
aims to please.
Pepe Moral came into the cartel to substitute David Mora. Moral recently
cut two ears in Sevilla (in the Corpus Christi corrida). The Casa de la
Misericordia was, to my mind, correct to offer him the substitution. A triumph
in Sevilla, even out of feria time, should be rewarded.
Unfortunately, his first bull was manso and prevented the possibility of
a faena. The bull would accept the first pass in the series, but escape at the
second towards his querencia. Once Moral followed him to the querencia, the
bull was reticent to charge. As is usual in these cases, the matador spent too
long in front of the bull, it was clear that the bull did not have a faena, but
Moral tried in vain to perform toreo of note. I can understand the kid’s
predicament, but, in these circumstances, I think the quicker the bull is
killed the better.
Thankfully, the narrative changed with the fifth bull. Moral was able to
ratify his sevillian triumph and demonstrate a profound, sober toreo of note.
This bull had a deep charge that Moral was able to exploit with a solid
fundamental faena performed with both hands. His toreo is engaged, well timed
and pure. It surprising that a torero that has been marginalised during his
whole career (this was only his ninth corrida in six seasons) can produce work
of such merit. He concluded his faena with the typical modern arrimón. However,
rather than the posturing at close quarters that sometimes is sold to us as
ojedismo, this was good figure of eight toreo whereby the torero used his
position close to the bull as a legitimate technique to extract long passes
from it. After a clean sword thrust Moral was awarded an ear. I am looking
forward to seeing him again, let’s hope the system gives him another chance!
Jiménez Fortes drew the
worst lot. Both of his faenas were long, but not memorable. I am loathe to say
that he had a poor afternoon. He was firm throughout and showcased his widely
recognised bravery. However, Fortes lacked the technical wherewithal to solve
the problems posed by his lacklustre bulls. Moreover, his timing was off kilter
which led to an excessive amount of enganchones. Fortes’ valour means that it
is worth waiting for him to mature as a torero, however, based on yesterday’s
showing, it may be preferable to give such opportunity to Moral too.
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