Cobber Cups King at Charlton

27 February 2012 - Five-year-old Conch Deville gelding Backas Cobber is proving to be this year's Country Cups trot king after completing a treble of Country Cup victories at Charlton last night. The bold going bay has racked up three Country Cup wins this year, winning the Horsham and Ouyen Trotters Cups in January before yesterday's victory. In the 2570 metre Charlton Trot Cup, Backas Cobber came from a 10 metre handicap and scored a tough win, travelling three wide at the bell and getting home to score by a head. Damian Wilson drove the Alan Wood, owned and trained squaregaiter to victory in a 2:05.7 mile rate. Shiraz Cabernet (Daryl Douglas) finished seceond with Bendigo's Barneys Invasion coming from the back to sprint through and round out the top three just a half neck away. Close up in fourth place in a four way photo finish  was Si Capsico. Just a half length seperated the first four finishers. Backas Cobber was well supported both on and off track and started the $1.90 favourite. The David Lewis trained and Caleb Lewis driven Abettorpunt indicated that he could be a rising star of harness racing when he defeated Mister Grizzly and Geelong Cup winner Heza Trick in the Charlton Pacing Cup. Abettorpunt started the $2.70 favourite and after racing behind the leader sprinted quickly in the straight to win by 2.7 metres in a 1:59.8 mile rate for the 2570 metre journey. - David Aldred ​