![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2026\/01\/Kaniva-302003_10860.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“In fact, we are going to get her in foal this year,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Proudly, Kaniva is part of a long line.<\/p>\n
“Twenty or 30 years ago, we bought a mare called Greet Our Guest (who won six races, including two city victories) and she was a sister to Reeperbahn (Symons’ first Group race winner). She went on to produce Lascelles and quite a lot of other good horses that we raced over the years and were winners.<\/p>\n
“It kept the line going, ending up with the likes of Kaniva, Kiata and Kalkee and a couple of good males.<\/p>\n
“That whole family has been good to us and now Kaniva will continue that line.<\/p>\n
“We did breed from Kaniva’s sister, Kiata, but she’s proven to be a difficult breeder.”<\/p>\n
At 64 and with about six horses in work, Symons admits he is ‘scaling down’ operations.<\/p>\n
“It’s getting a lot tougher,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s all well and good if you can mix it with the big boys and win some big money, but when you are back in the ruck a bit, it’s getting harder.<\/p>\n
“Because I am not breeding as much, I’m finding it harder, so I’m backing off a bit.<\/p>\n
“I feel a bit for the young trainers coming through and are trying to own a few horses themselves. Will they make enough money from it?<\/p>\n
“Years ago you could, but it’s getting tougher.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHRISTMAS came early at the end of 2025 for long-time Bendigo trainer Rod Symons. From 25 November to 18 December, Symons made three trips to the racetrack \u2013 each of them produced a winner. A purple patch of form started with Kamarooka’s 2200m maiden win at Ararat and ended with Makhanda’s stunning benchmark 62 victory […]<\/p>\n