The five-year-old follows in the footsteps of his half-brother, Backa Beyond, in the third of three first-round heats at Shepparton tonight.

The series continues with second heats at the Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting next Saturday night.

Backas Cobber is in career best form at the ideal time for Wood.

After hitting a flat spot late last year, Backas Cobber has won the Horsham and Ouyen Trotters’ Cups in consecutive appearances.

Wood could not be happier with his charge.

“He’s really good ... back to what he was as a two and three-year-old.”

Backas Cobber won four times as a two-year-old and as a three-year-old won the New South Wales Trotters Derby, was second in the South Australian Derby and fourth in the Victoria Derby.

Wood said a quarter crack (in a hoof) had held him back last season. Now fully fit and wearing a visor, it is a much fitter, more mature Backas Cobber.

And he needs it all – as well as drawing the second row, Backas Cobber clashes with reigning Inter-Dominion champion I Can Doosit and champion Sundons Gift.