Silence for Morante de la Puebla on his return to Melilla with a lackluster lot

José Antonio Morante reappeared in Melilla wearing the green of hope and gold after more than twenty days of inactivity due to the goring he suffered in Pontevedra on August 10. He had no luck with the bull that made his comeback, Hojaldre by name, from the Tornay ranch, so lacking in caste that he gave him no chance and was silenced. He also remained practically unseen in the fourth bull, another lackluster animal that was booed during the drag. Once again, the cigar maker remained silent at the Mezquita del Toreo (Mezquita of Bullfighting), which was about three-quarters full.

Juan Ortega paraded a trophy from the good second bull. Olga Casado gave Morante a performance with an ear with her first bull from Macandro. The fifth and sixth are still to come.

The cigar-making genius's next appointment is Saturday at the Motín de Aranjuez bullfight, just outside Madrid. An art poster features Juan Ortega and Pablo Aguado to fight bulls from Juan Manuel Criado. Afterward, his September bullfight continues in Don Benito (Badajoz) for the bullfight on Extremadura's big day (September 8). He shares the bill with Diego Ventura, Antonio Ferrera, and Emilio de Justo to fight bulls from Virgen María; for rejones, bulls from Los Espartales will be fought.

One afternoon later, on Tuesday the 9th, he returns to the Community of Madrid to walk the bullring in Navalcarnero (bulls from David Ribeiro Telles, Vellosino, Castillejo de Huebra, Domingo Hernández, Daniel Ruiz, and Monte la Ermita for Morante de la Puebla, Borja Jiménez, and Jarocho). And on Friday the 12th, his eagerly awaited encounter with Roca Rey in Valladolid. Marco Pérez completes the lineup, with bulls from Garcigrande. Twenty-four hours later, the Sevillian and Lima natives meet again in Albacete, facing bulls from Daniel Ruiz, with Paco Ureña as his partner.

Murcia, Salamanca, Guadalajara, and Logroño will follow later... A busy month with the finale in Seville before their double header on October 12 in Madrid.