Lalo de Maria Takes Home the 63rd Golden Cape at Nimes’ Novillada: Full Event Recap and Results

The former idol of the arenas of Nîmes, Antonio Borrero “Chamaco” (the City medal was awarded to him at the end of the race), led an impeccable novillada of presentation with six novillos who showed great qualities for offer a most interesting morning this Sunday morning in the amphitheater.

Yon Lamothe (hello and silence) inherited a noble and mobile first Chamaco but which lacked transmission and did not attack the muleta with force until the end of the crutch. His second turned out to be the worst toro of this novillada and Lamothe’s will and technique were not enough to connect with the public a few weeks before celebrating his alternative to Mont-de-Marsan.

Solalito (ear and two ears after notice) realized its dream of opening the Porte des Consuls in its arenas. The Nîmes hopeful shone in the three tercios with a lot of variety in the cape, ease in the banderillas and he showed clear progress in the muleta. The work undertaken over the past year with Luisito is bearing fruit and Solalito’s bullfighting has gained in precision, softness and depth. He multiplied the series with a good pace to take advantage of the rhythm and mobility of the second novillo which lacked a bit of class. A prick and a slightly off-axis sword did not extinguish the enthusiasm of the Nîmes public and the presidency opened the cupboard to the trophies.

Determined to triumph for his last paseo as novillero in Nîmes, Solalito took a severe rouste by welcoming his second novillo at porta cageola. This jostling did not temper the ardor of the Nîmes since he continued with a long kneeling and several speedwells and chicuelinas which triggered the olé of the tendidos. At the end of a spectacular tercio of banderillas, he alternated series on both banks with a meritorious artistic dimension after a stoic start by statuary. While keeping this classic style with an exemplary placement full of sincerity with passes marked by softness, depth and temple. After a final with bernardinas adjusted over the horns, a lightning sword offered him two deserved ears to open the Porte des Consuls.

Lalo de Maria (two ears and ear after notice) convinced the public by performing the best performance of his early career as a novillero. In 2022, the son of Marie Sara obviously lacked the profession to express his personality. After a winter of additional work with José Antonio Campuzano, the discoverer of Castella and Roca Rey, Lalo now has the weapons to give free rein to his personality and his courage with a very artistic toreo. Faced with his first Chamaco overflowing with class, the Nîmes achieved a great faena. With an inspired toreo and passes on both banks in slow motion and the hand still very low. A magnificent faena where the novillero obviously took pleasure in abandoning himself to this superb novillo and his audience. A sword more striking than well placed gave him two ears.

His beginning of faena, by toreating on his knees with 3/4 of the muleta on the sand facing the last Chamaco, will remain a highlight of this Feria. Again, he chained the seductive series with his right hand even if the passage to the left was not successful after being jostled. Despite a hesitant kill with a deep puncturea minority part of the public waved the handkerchief but the palco wanted to end the party in style with the two bullfighters leaving through the front door.

At the end of the novillada, the Peña Ordoñez awarded the 63rd Golden Cape to Lalo de Maria. A difficult choice as the two novilleros deserved to win the trophy after their attractive performances. Inevitably, part of the public inflicted a few whistles at the time of the award ceremony. But the main thing was elsewhere. Nîmes had a superb morning with five quality novillos and two hopefuls who proved that they had a future in such a difficult profession.