Fabio Jiménez impresses at the Maestranza with his classic personal accent

The bullfight with picadors held Thursday night at the Plaza de la Maestranza, the last one to include season tickets, featured an exciting performance by Riojan bullfighter Fabio Jiménez, who surprised with his classic personal accent, which earned him a valuable ear, the same award won by Salamanca-born Valentín Hoyos.

Hoyos, who opened the bullfight, was about to go to the portagayola to receive the first of the afternoon, a loose young bull from the start, tame on horseback and reluctant to use the banderillas, which he subdued from below at the start of the faena, but the animal, completely exhausted, was going to frustrate all the efforts of the Charro bullfighter, who also ended up going too far.

The fourth, an abantote, was about to reach the muleta, charging from a distance but slowing down in the vicinity. The animal wanted everything from a distance, losing pace, looking for a gallop to move beyond the embroques. Hoyos couldn't quite find that gait. He killed it well, though, raising the surprising and insistent request for the ear that he passed.

Fabio Jiménez, from La Rioja, showed excellent skill with the cape, especially in his extremely well-tempered verónica pass. The bull was about to reach the banderillero El Topas, falling to the ground as he caught the bullfighter as he exited the third pair of banderillas, and was carried to the infirmary in the arms of those in attendance. He was gored.

Jiménez fought him very well, with a classic air and excellent cut, taking advantage with composure and dedication of his opponent's noble but lifeless charges, especially with his left hand, dictating the passes one by one in a valuable performance finished off with an effective, slightly dropped sword thrust that validated the ear.

With the fifth, which was very well-rounded and had a bit of a beefy quality, he wasn't going to be able to stretch his cape. The bull came at the muleta rather abruptly, moving without class and protesting, with poor style. Despite everything, he always wanted to fight it well, although he ended up overstepping his bounds, even hearing a warning.

Cristian González, also from Salamanca, was going to be firm at the start of a merely lively (and also declining) faena, which benefited from the buoyancy of his opponent, with long runs and steady, rhythmic force at the beginning of a charge that, admittedly, lasted very little. The sword was also not up to par.

The sixth bull remained, more than beautiful from the front, and he charged joyfully at the horse. He wasn't going to have any trouble with the capes, moving nobly with González's muleta, who once again showed as much will as lack of resources to enhance his opponent's strengths.

CELEBRATION INFORMATION:

Six young bulls from Julio de la Puerta were fought, all of them unevenly presented. The first was absolutely tame; the second was noble and dull; the third was weaker but still good quality; the fourth was better over the long distance; the fifth was unclassified, and the sixth was more than drinkable.

Valentín Hoyos, in mauve and gold, standing ovation and one ear

Fabio Jiménez, of tobacco and gold, ear and silence

Cristian González, merino and gold, silence and silence

The bullring was half-full on a very hot afternoon/evening . Banderillero José Gómez "El Topas" was hit by the second bull of the evening, suffering a "10 cm wound from a bull's horn to the inner aspect of the upper third of the right thigh, medial part of Scarpa's triangle, affecting the rectus femoris and long abductor muscle, and bruising the vascular bundle without injuring it." The prognosis is serious.