Feria d’Arles: the form of Castella and Luque dominates the elements

Sébastien Castella et Juan Ortega ont ouvert la grande porte. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Castella a triomphé en coupant trois oreilles des Zalduendo. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Juan Ortega a livré une prestation décevante. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Castella triumphed by cutting off three of the Zalduendo's ears. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Daniel Luque was the author of the best faena of the day. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Castella triumphed by cutting off three of the Zalduendo's ears. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Daniel Luque was the author of the best faena of the day. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Daniel Luque a été l’auteur de la meilleure faena du jour. Midi Libre – Stéphan Guin

Pour la première corrida de la Feria, le Biterrois a coupé trois oreilles des toros de Zalduendo. Le Sévillan l’a accompagné par la grande porte en signant la meilleure faena du jour.

History will record that Sébastien Castella and Daniel Luque shared five ears of the Zalduendo bulls during the first bullfight of the Easter Feria to exit through the front door.

But this bullfight will not remain in the annals or in the memories of the aficionados who had well-stocked the amphitheater despite the wind and capricious weather all day.

The fault is mainly the toros of Zalduendo, correctly presented, but the majority of whom lacked race and the two best (4th and 5th) dropped their pace at the ends of faena. Without the technique and the period of confidence of Sébastien Castella and Daniel Luque, who optimized the potential of their opponents, bullfighting would have quickly descended into boredom. Even if their triumph took on a generous dimension for a first category arena because the second ears were too many considering the quality of the thrusts. A deep pinchazo for the Biterrois and a sword positioned behind and to the side for the Spaniard.

The presidency was also little inspired to sound the notices in the middle of a series of Castella then at the time of profile and the maestro had difficulty masking his annoyance.

Sébastien Castella's thirst for triumph

It was a vengeful Sébastien Castella who arrived in Arles with the desire to triumph to forget his bad memories of 2023. After a slow and gentle cape salute, he decided not to punish the first Zalduendo for the keep whole for a faena started beating drums on knees. The rest will be a demonstration of technique with good series on both banks and passes drawn with a low hand before shortening the distances when the toro has weakened. At the end of a long faena, a beautiful sword gave him a well-deserved earful.

Determined to open the big door, the Biterrois also took little advantage of his second Zalduendo. Is it the thirst for triumph, the conditions of the toro or the wind gene, the maestro forgot his recent toreo with refined and careful passes to return to the old recipes which made him successful during his first career. Faena's debut with the « cambiadas » house, a finale with « redondos » inverted with as main course series on the two horns with exemplary technique. But a touch of artistic dimension was missing to make the faena stand out more. The toro fell after a pinchazo with the sword and the second trophy seemed superfluous.

The faena of the day for Daniel Luque

Daniel Luque inherited a first toro who offered him no options because he was stopped from the start of the faena and did not transmit anything. The Andalusian's efforts were in vain.

On the other hand, the Sevillian showed the extent of his talent during his second fight. The best faena of the day marked with the seal of slowness, inspiration and relaxation. The start on the right hand set the tone, but his performance took on an even greater dimension when he followed up with the natural 60~/em>. After the  Luquesinas finals, he finished capsizing the public who did not hold it against him with a sword in questionable positioning.