Bob Sharrock raced the quality mare Shez Sinsational in partnership with Allan Baeyertz, Steak Goodin, Gordon MacDonald and Graeme Phillips, while his son Alan Sharrock trained the horse out of New Plymouth in the Taranaki. Shez Sinsational is by Ekraar out of the Shinko King mare, Original Sin. The three-year-old filly had a solid start to her career winning a Maiden event on her home track before proving victorious in her 2nd start.

In the lead-up to the events that culminated in McDonald's triumph at Ellerslie, the preceding ten minutes had been fraught with challenges. He had just guided the favoured Shez Sinsational to a hard-fought victory in the 2012 Gr.1 $500,000 Stella Artois Auckland Cup (3200m), but not before encountering some pre-race complications. In the preliminary gallop, the tree of McDonald's saddle broke, resulting in his right-side iron becoming detached and forcing him to resaddle. That resulted in a 10-minute delay to the race. Nevertheless, despite the persistent rainfall, McDonald and his horse maintained their composure and responded effectively under significant pressure. When his equipment malfunctioned, he promptly returned to the enclosure to exchange for an alternative saddle. Subsequently, she was permitted to assume her position, albeit amidst certain anxious moments when they thought she may be scratched. During the race, the mare exhibited signs of distress at the 600-metre mark, displaying a lack of responsiveness, however, upon entering the straight, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and acceleration. Her tenacity was truly exceptional. Shez Sinsational's triumph ended a 26-year hiatus for Taranaki horses in the Auckland Cup, with Kerry Lane being the previous victor in 1986 for former Hawera trainer Don Couchman.

The Auckland Cup win was Shez Sinsational's seventh from 19 starts and it took her earnings past $800,000. It was her third Group One win after the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and the Darci Brahma International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in November 2011. She would go on to win five more races, all Group status races. Her career started with a bang in September of 2010 as a 3yo when she broke her maiden on debut over 1200m at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. The filly backed that up with a win over 1400m at Awapuni and returned in April 2011 to win over 1600m at Hastings, beating Irish Bay. She then upped the ante with a powerful 6L victory at Te Rapa over 2000m, franking her staying potential.

The horse then earned a trip to Queensland depite being beaten by Raconteur over 2000m at New Plymouth in May 2011. Beaten by the narrowest of margins, Shez Sinsational had 11 lengths to spare on 3rd placed Torrado. The esteemed thoroughbred, under the able guidance of her regular jockey Opie Bosson, embarked on a journey to Brisbane. There, she demonstrated her prowess on the racetrack, securing a commendable third-place finish in the prestigious Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) behind Scarlett Lady. Recognising her potential to push on, Sharrock placed his trust in the Kiwi-bred filly once again, entering her in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), held at Eagle Farm a week later. In a thrilling display of athleticism and determination, Shez Sinsational narrowly missed the top spot, finishing a close second to Shootoff by a mere 0.2L. The mare subsequently emerged victorious in a captivating conclusion to the esteemed Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) held at the Gold Coast in May of 2012. Given the relatively slow pace of the race, jockey Opie Bosson strategically positioned Shez Sinsational at the forefront and maintained a commanding lead as they rounded the turn, ultimately fending off a formidable challenge posed by the high quality Lights Of Heaven in the final stretch. This remarkable triumph can be attributed to the exceptional training acumen of Allan Sharrock, who meticulously prepared Shez Sinsational for this event following a triumphant 1400-metre victory in Tauranga just two weeks prior.

In October 2012, Shez Sinsational won the Gr.1 Spring Classic (2040m) over the Cox Plate distance at Hastings, beating Guiseppina, then backed up that form by winning the Gr.3 Lindauer Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. In December, the mare won the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa beating Diademe by the shortest of margins and moved on to Ellerslie for what would turn out to be her swansong on Boxing Day 2012. Shez Sinsational was beaten by the classy Veyron in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and the connections then decided to call it a day. In a solid career of 30 starts Shez Sinsational had left a mark on the racing landscape and despite never claiming a Group One victory in Australia, still produced magnificent results.

Shez Sinsational continued to perform in her breeding role after retiring to stud in 2013, with her first foal being Sharrock’s 5-time black-type winning mare Sinarahma. Manifique followed a couple of seasons on, the daughter of Savabeel a $420,000 purchase by Glen Cotterill out of Wellfield’s Book 1 draft at the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sales, with breeders Gillespie and Bill Gleeson remaining in the ownership.

RACE RECORD - 30:12-6-3

EARNINGS - $1,400,722

1st 2012 Spring Classic (Gr.1)

2012 Stella Artois Auckland Cup (Gr.1)

2012 Darci Brahma Intl Stakes (Gr.1)

2011 Zabeel Classic (Gr.1)

2012 Cal Isuzu Stakes (Gr.2)

2012 A D Hollindale (Gr.2)

2012 Lindauer Stakes (Gr.3)

2nd 2012 Zabeel Classic (Gr.1)

2011 Channel Seven Qld Derby (Gr.1)

2011 Cal Isuzu Lady Norrie Stakes (Gr.2)

3rd 2011 Treasury Casino Qld Oaks (Gr.1)