New Zealand trainer Allan Sharrock has his top mare Shez Sinsational on target for another Group 1 victory after taking out the Group 2 $300,000 Gold Coast Turf Club A D Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast today.

Shez Sinsational (left) and Lights Of Heaven fight to the line in the Hollindale Stakes

The Auckland Cup winner is now headed to Doomben for the Group 1 $500,000 Kirks Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 19 and today’s tough win over the Peter Moody trained Lights Of Heaven will see her firm from the $9 on offer at the moment.

International jockey Oppie Bosson flew in from Singapore to ride Shez Sinsational ($5) and had the mare up sharing the lead with Triple Honour in the early stages.

When heads were turned for home she dropped off Triple Honour but had to fight to hold off Lights Of Heaven ($9.50) who was finishing hard for Luke Nolen to her outside to score by a nose with Mawingo just over three lengths away in third spot.

Favourite Foreteller ($3.50) blew the start but made up plenty of ground through the race to run on for fourth which all goes well for the longer races later in the carnival.

Sharrock has done an outstanding job with Shez Sinsational to prepare her for a 1400m win first up after winning the 3200m Auckland Cup in March and then to follow that up with a tough win today.

“Oppie rode her on a wet track at home and went too soon. He left it wide open today but she held and I’m proud of her,” Sharrock said.

“I said to Oppie that there’s no speed in the race, why be three wide and last and he’s gone forward and we got the job done.”

“We’re heading towards the Doomben Cup and we would love a firm track. She’s twice the mare on a firm track and lets hope we can get them.”