BEFORE arriving in Australia Tony Le Beller was not sure what to make of pacing, but on Wednesday night at Bathurst the Frenchman revealed he had fallen in love with that style of racing.

Le Beller has been in the country this week as part of the 10-man field for the World Driving Championship and like the rest of the Europeans taking part, is used to driving trotters as opposed to pacers.

But the 20 heats staged across NSW tracks, including Bathurst, require the drivers to sit behind pacers.

One of those pacers, the Amy Day trained Fours Enuf Tas, carried Le Beller to victory in the first of four heats the Bathurst Harness Racing Club hosted on Wednesday night.

As Le Beller made his way back for the post race interview to the sound of the La Marseillaise – the French national anthem – he had a big smile on his face.

Addressing the crowd with the help of a translator, Le Beller said he loved the Bathurst track, but even moreso, loved the Australian style of racing.

“He said he really loves pacers,” the translator said.

“Before he came here he was not sure what to make of them, he thought maybe it was a little bit silly, but now he really loves them.

“With trotters it is so hard to get a good one going, but he said with pacers it is easy, they just run along very nice.”

Le Beller arrived in Bathurst sitting third on the points table in the bi-annual series, having two wins to his credit through the first 12 heats.

He was fortunate to land the drive on Day’s four-year-old horse in the 1,730 metre 13th heat. Fours Enuf Tas had made an impressive start to the season with three wins and four second placings from seven starts.

Still, the man who has driven more than 1,000 winners since first saluting at Bordeaux in 1987 had to contend with a barrier 12 draw and as such, started as a $4 chance.

Crusinonthe Big Ern, with championship leader Dexter Dunn in the gig, held $1.60 favouritism, but the early battle for the lead involved two other contenders.

Defending champion Pierre Vercruysse, driving We Own The Night for Eglinton trainer Nathan Hurst, did enough in the opening stages from barrier one to hold the lead, but he soon gave up front position.

Instead it was American Tim Tetrick who set the tempo with Midnight Prowler, guiding the field through a 58.6 seconds first half.

We Own The Night was tucked in behind him on the pegs with Spain’s Guillermo Adrover parked outside with Runs On Attitude.

With some 400m to go, Kiwi native Dunn made his move and into the final bend, had stolen the lead with the Steve Turnbull trained favourite as Midnight Prowler faded.

But at the same time Le Beller had found a run for his Four Starzzz Shark x Lady Julie Lombo horse and over the final 100m, pulled clear of the pack.

Le Beller finished 51⁄4m clear of Party Starter ($35.70), who found the line well for Canadian Jody Jamieson to relegate Dunn to third.

Rating 1:56.6 for the win, Fours Enuf Tas continued his impressive streak. He has finished outside of the top two just once in his past 12 starts.

That effort was enough to keep Le Beller in third position after the Bathurst round, the Frenchman sitting on 116 points behind Dunn (161) and Tetrick (122).