Albacete, September 14: Over and unrewarded
Today’s corrida was a disappointing one, although not without its moments of good toreo.
Sebastián Castella might have cut an ear from his first bull - there was one superb linked series of derechazos and some decent opening capework - but for his swordwork. He did cut an ear from his second Victoriano del Río bull, eschewing his old approach of meeting the animal in the centre of the plaza at the start of the faena, but the award involved the spectators (many of whom even petitioned for a second ear) ignoring the bajonazo that ended things.
It was a similar story with Emilio de Justo (in the first of two feria appearances). He gave some exciting chicuelinas in a quite to his first bull, began the faena with doblones and ended it that way too, in between encouraging the bull to charge with his voice and toques. An ear was awarded despite a low sword. His other bull was not suitable for a triumph even though Emilio enticed it to charge from a distance and ended the faena with a period of arrimón. There was a minority petition despite another poor sword.
Tomás Rufo, making his debut in Albacete, was once again the most impressive of the terna. His first bull was the best of the afternoon and was met with feet-together verónicas. After a dedication to the public, Tomás got down on his knees for opening derechazos, winning applause. Then he produced some excellent toreo on both hands, bringing some in the crowd to their feet with toreo en redondo - derechazos closed with a cambio de mano. Two ears were undoubtedly his until a pinchazo, a three-quarters sword and several attempts to descabellar meant things ended with an ovation.
The day’s final bull brought drama en varas, twice lifting picador and horse. After some lovely delantales, there was another brindis al público, but this animal was not the right material for success and, despite a decent estocada (in which he was bumped by the bull), Rufo had again to resort to use of the descabello, ending with another ovation.