Juan Ortega Shines in Ponce's Farewell at La Malagueta

The evening of August 16, 2024, at La Malagueta bullring was filled with emotion, marking the fourth corrida of the festival and the final appearance of Enrique Ponce in the Malaga arena. The Valencian maestro was greeted with a warm ovation, prompting him to acknowledge the crowd from the tercio in a well-deserved tribute to his distinguished career at this iconic venue.

On this occasion, Morante de la Puebla delivered a poised performance with the second bull of the evening, while Juan Ortega gave a masterclass in cape work, displaying remarkable finesse and dedication with every move.

In his first bout, Ponce left his mark with several verónicas, though the bull stumbled, diminishing its strength. The maestro crafted a measured faena, giving the bull the time it needed, and finished with a series of doblones that resonated with the audience. In the fourth bull, his farewell opponent, Ponce showcased his full mastery, guiding a bull that was difficult to tame. Through skill and intelligence, he executed a meritorious faena, and despite a missed strike followed by a successful one, his effort was rewarded with a grand ovation and a triumphant lap of the ring.

Morante, for his part, stood out in his first bull, beginning his muleta work with two-handed passes and finishing with a strong series on the right. Although the bull weakened towards the end, Morante stamped his personal style on the performance, ending with a precise sword thrust. Despite a strong appeal from the crowd, the president did not award the ear. In his second bull, which had an uncertain charge, the Sevillian displayed his ability to mask the animal’s flaws, delivering beautiful muletazos, though without achieving greater brilliance.

Juan Ortega, in his first bull, offered a masterful performance with the cape, moving with a softness that captivated the audience. However, the Juan Pedro bull lacked class with the muleta, resulting in only a few scattered passes before the bull gave up. Ortega once again excelled with the cape in the sixth bull, performing very slow verónicas and finishing with two elegant half verónicas. The muleta work began with passes from above, showcasing pure artistry. With his left hand, Ortega executed natural passes of great beauty and depth, concluding his work with a clean sword thrust that earned him an ear.