1. An apparatus for detecting a disk sync mark, the apparatus comprising: a read channel configured to read a plurality of sector preamble bits; control circuitry configured to establish at least one timing phase based on the sector preamble bits; and correlation detection circuitry configured to detect, using correlation detection, a target data pattern for the disk sync mark at a period determined at least in part by the at least one timing phase, wherein the target data pattern is selected from a plurality of candidate target data patterns for the disk sync mark, wherein the plurality of candidate target data patterns for the disk sync mark comprises an initial candidate target data pattern and a plurality of shifted versions of the initial candidate target data pattern, and wherein each one of the plurality of shifted versions is shifted by a corresponding multiple of bits.