Even though the DNI said he was born in November 2020, an utrero who was two months away from his fourth birthday, he was already a bull, a guy with a full beard. They called him Christmas Eve, a curious baptism, he carried the iron of the Conde de la Corte, he came fifth in the bullfighting challenge of the Golden Potter of Villaseca de la Sagra and he sowed panic in a third of the yards of every man for himself. In one of those moments when the bullfighters who are in the ring having a drink surely ask themselves: what am I doing here when I could be online or, better yet, on the couch with my wife and children? Well, nothing, cold sweats and I hope the hurricane ends as soon as possible. There is no other option.
It was Mario Arruza who did what he could; and being in front deserves respect, even more so if just four days ago he suffered a two-trajectory horn to the right thigh in Calasparra, but the truth is that he did not control the beast, he gave it a nasty perpendicular sword blow, he got his head stuck and at the end, he even heard whistles. That the Count of the Court is not an easy animal is as evident as the task, exciting at first for the doubles, quickly dilutes.
On Christmas Eve, a tall, open-faced, red-haired man had rushed toward the horse as soon as he saw it. He put the kidneys in it and wrapped them in burlap; The horse fell backwards and left the picador Iván García Marugán pinned against the boards. Luckily, he didn’t hit the prey. Two more times he tore himself off the breastplate and a fourth time before the nag rolled away. The real guy, Ignacio Martín Ramos, was playing with banderillas and the square recognized him with a thunderous ovation. Deserved. And in this task, the bull developed his genius, hitting screws that transformed Arruza’s work into an epic.
With the second, from El Añadío, who had a baby expression and charged at an accelerated pace, the Cuenca man from Mota del Cuervo was infected by the speed of the Santacoloma and never gave up.
The highest quality animal of the celebration was the first, Coleterón, a Barcial breast, with a strange coat and superlative quality. If it had been a little spicier, it would have been a big problem. However, he did not transmit and did not interrupt the work of Eduardo Neyra, who forgot to sharpen the executioner. The opposite of the fourth encore, also from El Añadío, who replaced the one from Saltillo who had fought a lot in the bullfight and was ready to be dragged down. Ugly and coarse as a horse, his face in the clouds, it was impossible for the Mexican from Durango to shine.
In the end, it was the other Aztec bullfighter on the bill who won the afternoon’s applause with the draw, more conducive to victory. Emiliano Osornio, 20 years old and new to Spain, had a hard time opening the doors for him. And if meritocracy existed in the bullfighting world, there is no doubt that the one from Querétaro, where Butragueño scored four goals against Denmark, won more chances. Between good and very good, he handled the cape, with temperament and grace, while with the muleta he always wanted to bullfight slowly. First he sent a manageable purple from the Partido de Resina, beautiful as only this breed produces, and finally a noble red from Concha y Sierra that faded quickly.
The token
Golden Potter. Bullring of “La Sagra” in Villaseca. Monday, September 9, 2024. Fifth round of fertilization. Three quarters of entry. Breeding challenge. The 1st, from Barcial, of great class, but without sting. The 2nd, from El Añadío, sticky. The 3rd, in Resin Party, manageable. The 4th bis, by El Añadío, a mule. The 5th, from the Count of the Court, very valiant in rods; embedded and with genius in the crutch. The 6th, from Concha y Sierra, noble and less. The National Association of Bullring Presidents (Anpte) awarded a cash prize of 300 euros to Juan Melgar for being the best picador.
– Eduardo Neyrain blue and gold: a deep sting and eight crazy things (warning and silence). On the fourth, two blows and a punch (silence).
– Mario Arruzaof bull’s blood and gold: two stings and a blow (silence). In the fifth, half perpendicular and seven crazy things (warning and whistles).
– Emiliano Osorniopearl gray and gold: low lunge (ovation with greetings). On the sixth, deep jab (ovation with greetings).
