Before the last corrida of the 2010 version of the Feria de Fallas in Valencia, photographer Mauricio Berho captured a shot for the ages of the All Star Corrida of Spanish and French Figuras. From left to right are Morante de la Puebla, David Fandila “El Fandi”, José Maria Manzanares, Sebastian Castella, Julian Lopéz “El Juli”, Cayetano Ordoñez and Enrique Ponce. the photo rivals those of yesteryear of Joselito, El Gallo and Juan Belmonte.

Shot on a little Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, here is Ponce’s performance from Sunday 1/11/09.

On Sunday the 1st of November, Enrique Ponce made his debut in the northern Mexican city of Tijuana, Baja California. A much anticipated corrida resulted with one trophy for Octavio Garcia “El Payo” and no apendices for Ponce or the outclassed third tier Mexican Juan Chavez. All three matadores suffered with the sword as the weak toros from Teofilo Gomez provided little play. Ponce did show the media llena Plaza his greatness with his animals (he had a toro de regalo) with graceful cape work and his classic smooth nonchalant use of the muleta. He lost an ear with the first toro and with the second toro he extracted a respectable faena on a toro which in any plaza de importancia would have been sent back. It was with the toro de regalo where Ponce shined. Classic Ponce kneeling pases and tandas on both sides was spoiled under the lights of the plaza with multiple pinchazos. For his part “El Payo” show good schooling and great promise. His poise and classic toreo (less derechazos de rodrillas) thrilled the crowd as he cut the only ear of the afternoon on his first toro. Juan Chavez look as if he had an inferority complex and his fighting echooed that. Overall, Ponce sword work erased what could have been a historic afternoon. Hopefully we’ll see him again in Tijuana.