New Zealand’s equestrian history is about to be made. Kiwi eventer Clarke Johnstone is poised to take out the 2011 Eventing World Cup, in France this weekend. 

The win would be a New Zealand first, as no kiwi equestrian has ever managed the feat.

Waikato bred Johnstone, who is now based in the UK, has a 10 point buffer over nearest rival in the competition, top Australian rider Chris Burton.

The World Cup series runs over seven events, with the best three scores to count for riders points, and is worth a whopping 30,000 Euros to the victor. 

With two wins and a third from the six rounds so far, Johnstone says he is heading to Le Grand Complete in Normandy, ‘ a little nervous but very excited’.

Johnstone will be aboard his ever popular Orient Express, on whom he was part of the bronze medal winning New Zealand team at the World Championships in Kentucky last year, and Clarke says his 13 year old steed is looking “a million dollars”.

The world class event has attracted 266 horses from 14 countries, and features some of the world's best combinations’

For the final of the world cup, 47 combinations from around the world are set to start in the premier World Cup class, beginning with dressage, followed by the cross country on Saturday, and show jumping on Sunday.