TOP trainer Mick Zammit is at the crossroads with his flying sprinter Bungendore.
The son of Go Wild Teddy-Floodline blitzed a smart field in the Christmas Stocking final (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.
He scored by an ever-increasing five and three-quarter lengths in 30.23 beating Farmor Assassin with a neck to Gotta Love Him in third.
Zammit admits he has put Bungendore to the test in recent months. He was narrowly beaten into second by then kennelmate Gunnadoo Saint in the Young Guns in November.
He then chased home eventually winner Pure Burst in a hat of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
“Believe me, this is a really hot young dog,” said Zammit.
“And I think a couple of weeks break would do him the world of good and help him develop into the dog I believe he will be.”
But there are a host of big races coming up in the next couple of months that will perfectly suit Bungendore.
Firstly there is the Young Guns series at the Gold Coast, followed by another Young Guns at Albion Park (both worth $10,000 to the winner), and also the Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park.
“At this stage I will probably go to the Gold Coast because the track suits him,” said Mick.
“But I’ll have a think about what to do over the next few days.”
Zammit trains the dog for NSW owner Mark Lewis and Bungendore is one of only four he has at his new property.
He also trains Bungendore’s litter sister Mark’s Wild Girl (third in the Christmas Cup at the Gold Cost on Wednesday), Vizard (a Gold Coast winner on Wednesday) and an unnamed pup.
They are the only four he trains. Zammit is being ever reluctant and will give nothing away about the quality of the unnamed pup.
The victory in the added money Christmas Stocking final took Bungendore’s career record to seven wins and three placings in 12 starts.
“There is much more to this dog,” said Mick.
“The first time I trialled him over 520m at Albion Park he ran a 5.70 first section. He has not run up to that since, but I know it’s in him.
“A short break from racing might just be enough to turn him into a star.”
Bungendore won the race with a sensational 11.57secs middle section. It broke his rivals hearts.

WAYNE Vassallo once wanted to be a racecaller, but he’s happy he decided to switch to greyhound training.
It landed him another Group 1 victory at Albion Park on Thursday night when Pure Burst led throughout to take out the Group 1 Brisbane Cup final (520m).
She scored by three lengths in a flying 30.10 to beat home town hope Leica Ruby with a half head to the luckless Suave Fella in third.
Vassallo admitted after the victory he was supremely confident his bitch could win the final after the box draw last week despite being reserved at the time.
“I gave her a great chance because I thought she could lead and those on her outside were not quick early,” he said.
That’s just how the race turned out.
Pure Burst had already won the Group 1 Laurels at Sandown and been a finalist in the Sapphire Crown and Melbourne Cup.
“This is my biggest thrill in greyhound racing,” said Vassallo. “When she won the Laurels it was a race restricted to bitches and on her home track.
“It’s something different to come away and beat all comers. It’s a big thrill.”
Vassallo had worked for three years with famed Victorian trainer Jason Thompson learning his trade but has been on his own for the past eight years.
He has nine dogs in work of which Pure Burst is easily the best.
The bitch is raced by Adam Cushkeri and Joe Yusi.
“The boys bought two pups from the Token Prince-Hotburst litter and when they were broken in Jason got the dog to train and he did not have the room for this bitch so asked me to train her,” said Vassallo.
Unfortunately the dog broke down for Thompson and did not get to race.
Thompson prepared Suave Fella to finish third in the final and was amazed at the dog’s performance after finding early trouble and then giving the leader 10 lengths start in the back straight before rushing home to be beaten three lengths.
Thompson is uncertain what to do with Suave Fella in the future.
“I’m not sure about stepping him up in distance,” he said. “He might just be one of those dogs who is a strong 500m finisher.”
Runner-up Leica Ruby throilled connections, owner Ruth Turner and trainer Tony Brett with her great second.
Ironically her dam Rose Of Shiraz had finished second in a Group 1 Brisbane Cup herself.
Pure Burst will go home to contest the Cranbourne Cup and then head to Wentworth Park in Sydney for the Group 1 National Futurity.
Victory took Pure Burst’s record to 13 wins and nine placings in 26 starts. She has now won $155,000 in stakes.
Vassallo said dam Hotburst had been a brilliant sprinter but unable to runj further than 400 metres.
“But she’s already produced some handy dogs from earlier litters.”
Owners Cushkeri and Yusi had refused talk of buying the bitch very early in her career. Neither decided to come to Albion Park for the Cup final.
“I don’t know why they didn’t come up for the race,” said Vassallo.
He’s certain they will regret that now. Amazingly 10-1 was bet on course about Pure Burst.