Owner of the month – December – Jessica Jell
The Racehorse Owners Association is honoured to name Jessica Jell as our Owner of the Month, celebrating a remarkable season highlighted by the unforgettable victory of Mocha Blend in the 2025 Gr1 Betway Summer Cup. Deeply rooted in the sport and guided by generations of racing passion, Jessica’s journey reflects dedication, teamwork and an enduring love for both racing and breeding.
Jessica’s involvement in the sport is extensive and varied. Through Mauritzfontein, in partnership with her mother, she is involved in approximately 20 to 25 horses currently in training. Beyond that, she enjoys racing a number of horses in partnership with friends, notably through the Phoenix Syndicate, which she describes as tremendous fun. Jessica and her husband Steven also campaign a couple of horses in their personal colours, adding a special family dimension to their racing interests.
Her horses are trained by a broad network of professionals across all three major racing centres in South Africa, with no fewer than ten trainers entrusted with her runners. Having grown up in racing, Jessica has formed strong and lasting friendships throughout the industry. Internationally, she has enjoyed significant success over the past three to four years with fillies trained by Graham Motion in the United States, an experience she describes as both hugely enjoyable and rewarding.
Although she had attended major race days with her mother from a young age, Jessica recalls that her true passion for racing was ignited one memorable evening of night racing, thanks to her grandmother. What she expected to dread turned into a magical introduction to the sport, capped by Fort Defiance’s victory in the Newmarket Guineas, a leg of the Triple Crown. Celebrating that win into the early hours with legendary racing figures sealed her fate, and from then on, racing became a regular and cherished part of her life.
Away from the track, Jessica is actively involved in the running of Mauritzfontein and serves on the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association council, along with several other boards. Despite these commitments, she says her most important role is being a mother to her two very busy little girls, who keep her on her toes.
Outside of racing, Jessica finds balance and joy in the bushveld, where she loves spending time whenever possible. Fishing and walking are favourite pastimes, and as the years have gone by, family and close friends have become increasingly important to her.
When asked what she enjoys most about the sport, Jessica’s answer comes from the heart of breeding. She speaks fondly of life on the farm, watching mares and foals in the paddocks and dreaming about what the future might hold. The team spirit, the hard work and the shared hope for the next champion make every challenge worthwhile. As she puts it, “one champion makes all the sleepless nights worth it”.
With such an illustrious racing and breeding career, choosing a single standout victory is no easy task. Each success carries its own meaning, from Maybe Yes, who delivered her first Group race win, to Smart Call, her first Group 1. She fondly recalls Nother Russia’s outstanding Group race career, followed by the thrill of her daughter Gimme A Nother, who won seven consecutive races in South Africa before claiming a Group 2 in America. Summer Pudding provided inspiration during lockdown, while Laurelin has delivered tremendous excitement with her success in the United States including winning the Gr2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse and running 2nd in one of America’s best three-year-old fillies races, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Most recently, of course, Mocha Blend’s sensational Summer Cup triumph stands as a crowning moment.
On the future of South African racing, Jessica is refreshingly honest and optimistic. She acknowledges the complexity of the challenges facing the industry but believes that passionate people across all jurisdictions are working hard, and she remains confident that the sport is on an upward trajectory.
Although she was unable to attend the Summer Cup in person, Jessica’s memories of the day are vivid. Glued to the television, she soaked up the atmosphere and praised the exceptional coverage and Betway’s contribution to the event. Despite already feeling the fear of missing out long before the main race, nothing prepared her for what followed. Long-time belief from trainer Frank Robinson in Mocha Blend’s ability, particularly at Turffontein, made the win possible, but the victory itself came as a complete surprise. The celebrations at home were so loud that the dogs ran out of the house, and the family thought that the kitchen must be on fire, and to this day, Jessica admits she is still pinching herself and never tires of watching the replay.
Jessica’s story is one of heritage, heart and hard-earned success. We congratulate her on an extraordinary achievement and are proud to recognize her as our Owner of the Month. We would also like to thank Jessica, Steven and their entire Family for their longstanding love and support to this wonderful industry. May the year ahead bring many more successes in racing and breeding, and we wish them a wonderful season in South Africa and abroad.
