A magnetic read apparatus includes a first sensor, a shield layer, an insulating layer, a shield structure and a second sensor. The shield layer is between the first sensor and the insulating layer. The shield structure is in the down track direction from the insulating layer. The shield structure includes a magnetic seed structure, a shield pinning structure and a shield reference structure. The magnetic seed structure adjoins the shield pinning structure. The shield pinning structure is between the shield reference structure and the magnetic seed structure. The second sensor includes a free layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the shield reference structure and the free layer. The shield reference structure is between the shield pinning structure and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The shield pinning structure includes a pinned magnetic moment. The shield reference structure includes another magnetic moment weakly coupled with the pinned magnetic moment.