Andy Cartagena was carried out on shoulders through the Puerta del Príncipe, the first of the April Fair, after a manifestly improvable performance, more spectacular than bullfighting, and the rider more concerned with seeking easy applause than with bullfighting on horseback. It would merit a thorough study to find out why the president granted him the two ears of the fourth bull of the afternoon after a performance that was little more than showy, in which the violin banderillas stood out (in one of them, one of his horses was injured) and a two-handed pair. He killed with a rejón high up that caused a hemorrhage, and they carried him out on shoulders.
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Truly, truly, the one who should have left in such a manner is El Capea, the owner of the bulls, who sent to Seville a corrida correctly presented, very even in build, with long and constant charges, very noble, sweet as syrup, which helped the trio to feel at ease as if they were in a tentadero.
Despite this, the spectacle only picked up in the third bull of the afternoon, when Guillermo Hermoso waited for his bull at the gate of the bullpens, the animal came out with great speed and put the horse Jíbaro in serious trouble, who emerged victorious from the chase.
The Navarrese’s performance was based on classic horse bullfighting, close-up and with quiebros in a small space. He failed in the first punishment rejón, but overcame the blot by placing banderillas and roses and a spectacular mastery of the mounts that lifted spirits.
Guillermo Hermoso lifted them because they had been downcast since the beginning of the celebration.
Cartagena is obsessed with applause. His is more an equestrian show than bullfighting on horseback. He shows the public the punishment rejón, goes to the center and dedicates the faena, takes a couple of turns, has taught Hechicero to ask for the ears, and then indicates to the animal the way to the cuadrillas’ patio to receive the umpteenth ovation. He placed easily in his two bulls and practices an old-fashioned rejoneo, lacking innovation and scarce in emotion. Since he killed his lot effectively, he was awarded a trophy in the first bull and two, incomprehensibly, in the other.
Another bull, like all six, for triumph, was Lea Vicens’ first, with a dog-like nobility and temperance in its genes. The amazon placed without problems, always far from her opponent, with adjustment, which subtracts emotion from all her work. The lidia of the fifth developed in the same tone, but as she needed two descabello blows, she lost the possibility of accompanying Cartagena in the final walk.
Hermoso de Mendoza lost the Puerta del Príncipe because he failed when killing the sixth. Before, he had offered a beautiful lesson in temperance on the back of the horse Berlín, a spectacle in itself. He placed punishment rejones and banderillas with bullfighting skill and shone with the hermosinas and a total mastery of the situation. His was the most bullfighting performance of the afternoon, but he left the plaza walking.
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By the way, the presence of Diego Ventura was missed; the stands were only three-quarters full, when this is a sold-out corrida every year.
El Capea/Cartagena, Vicens, Hermoso
Three bulls from El Capea, and another three -first, fifth and sixth- from Carmen Lorenzo, dehorned for rejoneo, correctly presented, very noble, of exquisite class and temper.
Andy Cartagena: rear rejón (ear); rejón causing hemorrhage (two ears). Carried out on shoulders through the Puerta del Príncipe.
Lea Vicens: rejón high up causing hemorrhage (ear); half rejón high up and two descabellos (lap of honor).
Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza: rejón high up (ear); pinchazo and rejón causing hemorrhage (ear).
Plaza de La Maestranza. April 19. Ninth subscription event of the April Fair. More than three-quarters full.
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