In Las Ventas there are no miracles; there are, perhaps and not always, opportunities for success based on skill, experience, attitude, conditions, and the personality of the bullfighters, and the luck that an understanding occurs between a brave and brave bull and a bullfighter in form.
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But miracles, no. That is why this Sunday’s bullfight has passed with more sorrow than glory, with veteran matadors desperately searching for a miracle that only exists in their dreams. The three carry many years of experience and very few events; consequently, they stand out for the endurance experience, but not for the craft. They show determination and desire, but those qualities are not enough; and they do not stand out for a defined personality. In short, success appears as an impossible goal.
The bulls also did not lend themselves to overall brilliance, but two of them did, the fifth from Valdellán and the sixth from Fraile, and both went to the slaughterhouse with many passes, but little bullfighting.
There are no miracles in Las Ventas. Or yes. Otherwise, ask the Cádiz native Pérez Mota, who threw himself with all his soul onto the neck of the fourth after a pinch, and was run over, first, hooked by the chest, then, and finally, his right leg was caught for a long and anguished few seconds. The goring was textbook, but fortunately, the bullfighter got up from the fight intact in his flesh, and only with the pants torn after that tremendous somersault with a taste of blood. Therefore, miracles do exist in the Las Ventas arena.
The event itself had little story. It was announced as a livestock challenge, something like a competition, a duel, a fight, but there was none. Not even a clear winner, except for the fifth bull, from Valdellán, compliant in the varas and brave and repetitive in the final third. Alberto Lamelas received it on his knees with a long change in the middle and some passionate and fast verónicas; Iván García greeted with banderillas, and the matador was there with more will than accuracy, gave many passes, but bullfighting, what is called bullfighting, he did not bullfight. Normal, on the other hand.
The same happened to Venegas before the sixth, a bull from Fraile, who barely passed in the varas, and showed nobility in the muleta. The matador drew some long and tempered natural passes, but the good condition of the animal stood out more than the skill of the bullfighter.
He could not say anything either before his first, the substitute from El Montecillo, poorly presented and noble, with little strength and dull drive.
Pérez Mota first encountered a Valdellán specimen of ugly style and reserved whom he always called from a distance and with apparent bravery. And Lamelas had a hard time, first, with a bull from Fraile, violent, very dull, uncertain, that threw headbutts and twists everywhere, and surprisingly was applauded in the dragging.
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In short, it was not a bullfight of opportunities either; above all, because it was impossible with three very veteran bullfighters, with their careers made, with few dreams left and a future decided long ago. More than an opportunity for the bullfighters, one less commitment for the company.
Valdellán, Fraile/P. Mota, Lamelas, Venegas
Livestock challenge among three bulls – first, third (returned for invalidity) and fifth – from Valdellán, well presented, tame and reserved the first, and compliant in the varas and brave and noble in the muleta the fifth; and three – second, fourth and sixth – from Juan Luis Fraile, sharp-horned, tame and very dull the first; fair presentation and dull the second, and well presented, compliant in the varas and noble the sixth. The substitute, from El Montecillo, poorly presented, tame and noble.
Pérez Mota: pinch, half tendida and fall and a descabello (some applause); pinch and estocada (ovation).
Alberto Lamelas: pinch, half tendida _warning_ and three descabellos (ovation); low estocada (lap of honor).
José Carlos Venegas: two pinches _warning_ pinch and rear estocada _second warning_ (silence); four pinches _warning_ (silence).
Las Ventas bullring. September 13. Livestock challenge. A quarter of the attendance (7,363 spectators, according to the company).
