By David Nagel
Over the Christmas period, the Star News’ sports team will be re-sharing some of the most popular stories from over the course of 2023.
Thank you for supporting our newspapers over the course of the year. We hope you enjoy the selection and have a wonderful holiday period, however you choose to celebrate.
You’ve got to love it when a plan falls into place!
Nar Nar Goon local Mitchell Leek took things to the next level recently when two plans fell perfectly into place in the space of six days.
On Saturday April 29, at Melbourne Pavilion, Leek kept his perfect record intact as a pro-boxer when he defeated Damien Lock to win the Victorian Silver Super Middleweight title.
Leek’s record now stands at 7-0, with the prospect of bigger and broader questions to come.
Two days later at Bairnsdale, Leek changed hats from pro-boxer to horse trainer, giving his five-year-old gelding Castrofrancaru a lead-up run to his main target, just four days later at Kyneton.
The plan came to fruition, with the son of Americain/Bent Chicago scoring a narrow victory to give Leek his first official victory as a trainer.
“It was a massive week, weighing in for the bout on Friday, and then fighting on Saturday, and it was pretty big winning my first title, a Victorian Silver title, which is like a regional belt,” Leek explained.
“That was pretty exciting, having the family and friends there, and then I went to the races on Monday knowing that they would probably be a bit sharp for my horse and he would need more ground.
“I had that race in mind for the Friday, and it worked out perfectly on the back-up, he’s a good stayer and it all come to fruition.”
Leek then mixed his two passions on the way home from Kyneton.
“I actually called into the gym on the way home from the races and all my boxing coaches came out and met the horse and we all had a good laugh,” he said.
“It’s just been a really big high, with everything that’s happened, it’s been fantastic.”
With his boxing, Leek is now a top-10 contender in the state, with his progression hoping to continue with his next bout at the Pavilion on August 19.
A win there would see him fight for a legitimate state title, and propel him into the top-10 Super Middleweights in the land.
If all goes well, the 23-year-old could then cap off a huge year in the first week of December, fighting for an Australian or Australasian title.
And when it comes to his horse training, Leek said it was a tremendous thrill to finally train his own winner, after Castrofrancaru had won four races for him as an owner when he first purchased the horse last year.
Mitchell’s dad John was the trainer back then, with the horse switching to Mitchell’s care and winning at his second start for the young trainer.
“I was rapt, I’ve been breaking in horses and pre-training them for other trainers and you watch them get fit and head off to others and perform well, but to finally do it myself was a huge thrill,” he said.
“Castro was the first proper racehorse I bought for myself and my partner (Lauren Walker) last year, and he’s been an absolute saviour for me.
“Last year he won four in a row and paid for new stables for me to break in and pre-train, and now he’s backed it up with me as trainer.”
Mitchell’s partner Lauren has also had recent success, being a finalist in the Miss Universe pageant.
