For the second time, Schmetzer produced Leo for a first-up victory, without a trial, in a Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.

With Hugh Bowman aboard, the four-year-old I Am Invincible gelding raced three wide with cover before unleashing a sustained sprint over the final 300 metres to take out the 1000m class two handicap by a length.

A first-up winner in a class 3 at Randwick last July when a $41 shot, Leo paid $7 on Saturday.

Schmetzer said Leo would next likely chase a class 3 Highway as part of a long-range plan to make the Kosciuszko field in October.

"He's got one more crack [at a Highway] so I'll find the right race again and go back and hopefully win another one," Schmetzer said.

"Then I'll probably try to get him into the Kosciuszko.

"He loves it at Randwick and he was strong to the line which makes the 1200 of the Kosciuszko all right, especially a bit later on."

As for the Country Championship, Schmetzer said The Snooperstar was likely to be his only runner.

"I don't think [Leo] could get 1400 yet, he's just a little bit keen still, so I like to keep him at the shorter trips," he said.

"Maybe next year we might be able to get him out further."

Leo was the only success for the Hunter contingent at Randwick on Saturday, although Newcastle-trained Never Talk and Sky Lab put in impressive performances.

The Kris Lees-trained Never Talk stormed home to finish fourth in the group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), while the Paul Perry-trained Sky Lab did likewise in the benchmark 88 handicap over 2000m.