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Buchanan happy with daughter of first season sire Flying Artie ahead of her second start

Juvenile filly Fumiko (Flying Artie) has her trainer excited for the future as she looks to continue the winning start to her career at Rosehill on Saturday.

The daughter of Newgate Farm's young sire Flying Artie (Artie Chiller) won well against the older horses on debut, scoring at Newcastle by a length and a half. 

Although facing her own age group on Saturday, she comes up against metropolitan performed horses in what could be the start of something special.

Trainer Kristen Buchanan has no doubts about Fumiko's ability, saying now is the right time to test her in metropolitan company.

"It's just time to pop the question I guess, to see where we're headed this preparation and also for her future," she said.

"She is nominated for some feature races in Queensland, but she'd have to be very forward to go up there.

"I'm very happy with her, she's ticking all the boxes at home.

"I know she's a nice filly, I have no qualms about that, but whether we're putting her away and saving her for her three-year-old year or venturing north (is the question)."

Fumiko was purchased by Platinum Breeding and Racing and Pinhook Bloodstock for $55,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale from the draft of Fairhill Farm, with the business looking to pinhook the filly at the following year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. However, when the filly failed to reach her reserve, they sent her to Buchanan to lease to her stable clients.

The two-year-old repaid the faith with an impressive debut victory, catching and passing the breakaway leader to win comfortably.

Buchanan says racing against the older horses was the query, but the professionalism of her two-year-old shone through.

"I was very pleased with her, I expected her to be a professional, her trials and in her work at home she's very level-headed and I think that's why she's at the races now," she said.

"When she drew the good barrier at Newcastle, I thought the track would suit her, but I just thought it was our best option to have her first go at it and it mapped quite nicely for her.

"Obviously racing against the older horses was the question mark and the challenge, but at this time of year there's a lot of two-year-olds having to do that, there's not always maiden's around when you want them.

"I feel like physically she's got a lot of maturing to do, but mentally she's very very forward."

Buchanan will not push the filly beyond her limits this preparation, believing she'll cover more ground as she gets older.

"We're not going to push the envelope too far with her this time around," she said.

"I'm certainly looking forward to Saturday and testing her in her own age group. I'm hoping to get a nice soft draw again and give her every possible chance.

"I think she'll get 1400 metres or a mile no issues. She's very settled, she's the kind of filly you can put to sleep and then ask her to go through her gears and she'll do that.

"I think she's got all the makings of a horse that can get over further for sure."