Taking your chances overseas can pay - the warning for domestic racing is clear

If there is an aspect of training that isn't given enough credit perhaps it is the art of placing horses.

For the very best performers options can be limited due to the structure of the Pattern and it is often easy to predict where they will be campaigned.

However, only a select few fall into that category. For most, placing is key when it comes to obtaining results, whether that be motivated by the drive for success, black type or resale value.

One of the most interesting cases of colourful campaigning in recent years concerns State Of Rest, who only had a Fairyhouse maiden to his name prior to winning the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby last August.

He then went on to land the Cox Plate in Australia, Prix Ganay in France and Prince of Wales's Stakes in Britain for a remarkably global Group 1 haul.

This was a risky and ambitious plan because State Of Rest had been beaten four times in Pattern-class races closer to home, but Joseph O'Brien – one of the most successful trainers in Ireland – could afford to take it.

State Of Rest wins the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Charlie Appleby sits on a similar perch, as with Godolphin's backing he has any number of talented horses to train and he doesn't need to worry about the cost of air fares when transporting his charges to exotic locations. Even so, his recent dominance in America and Canada is staggering.

He scooped two Grade 1s on Canada's Woodbine Mile card last year when Albahr and Wild Beauty won the Summer and Natalma Stakes before Modern Games, Space Blues and Yibir gave him a further three victories from just seven runners at Del Mar's Breeders' Cup.

Appleby was in fine form again on Saturday evening when he sent out Mysterious Night and Modern Games to win in Canada, while Nations Pride took flight at Aqueduct.

While it is always enjoyable seeing our horses succeed overseas, it also carries a sizeable warning. If we are unable to supplement our prize-money levels at home there must be a danger other countries will see more of our stars than we do.

Appleby's trio comfortably netted £922,612 in under two hours. The likelihood is they would have to fight far harder for that cash in Britain, where our turf horses are traditionally stronger and the prize-money much weaker.

While superpowers like O'Brien and Appleby undoubtedly have an advantage when it comes to competing abroad, this weekend Archie Watson also proved it can be done on a smaller scale.

After capturing the Prix Eclipse in France on Saturday, Eddie's Boy arrived back in Britain with £33,613 and a Group 3 to his name, despite the fact he had already been comprehensively beaten in the same class in Britain.

Watson was also in the money in Sweden. Al Zaraqaan scooped £1,375 more than his previous win at Newton Abbot when taking a conditions hurdle and Outbox's narrow defeat in the Stockholm Cup netted him £16,977 more than his third-placed effort in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.

Hughie Morrison's Mrs Fitzherbert was a winner in FranceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hughie Morrison is another with a firm grasp of the European calendar and he also struck gold at Chantilly when Mrs Fitzherbert took the Group 3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon.

She could only manage third in the Atalanta Stakes last time but took advantage of this easier overseas task to set up a possible Group 1 tilt.

There are inherent risks attached to international campaigning and Brexit has enforced reels of red tape, but recent results suggest it is a gamble worth taking when British racing is in such dire shape.

Appleby, Watson and Morrison reaped the rewards last week and deserve plaudits for being creative in their race planning. It is Britain's loss, but there is much to be gained by straying from the status quo.

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.