It will be a case of deja vu for trainer John Wigginton when he saddles In Evidence in Mackay on Friday ahead of a trip south for next month’s 3YO QTIS Jewel final at the Gold Coast.

In Evidence – a Ryan Wiggins mount – will book his ticket for the QTIS Jewel if the gelding performs well in the QTIS Jewel Qualifier 3YO Plate over 1200 metres.

"I think he'll make the field for the QTIS final but this Mackay race is a nice stepping stone," John Wigginton said.

Wigginton is following a similar path as 12 months ago when he made the four-hour trip to Mackay to qualify In Evidence for the 2YO QTIS Jewel which was run at Doomben last year.

In Evidence won the Mackay qualifying race for the QTIS Jewel in Brisbane but unfortunately he could only manage sixth in the final won by the Les Ross-trained Mishani Royale.

"He had no luck in the QTIS Jewel last year and he was still learning his craft," Wigginton said.

Wigginton bought In Evidence at the Magic Millions yearling sales after he was passed in for $56,000.

"I was the under bidder and I picked him up for $50,000," Wigginton said.

"I didn't go down for the sales and only watched it on-line but I liked his walk and his pedigree page."

In Evidence is coming off a first-up second to the highly rated Fine Shot in three-year-old grade over 1200 meters at Rockhampton on February 9.

"I thought his run first-up was enormous as he had to give Fine Shot three kilos," Wigginton said.

"He tried to make a run but he just knocked up."

Wigginton rates the Nick Walsh-trained Fine Shot and the Tommy Smith-trained Acres Away as the biggest threats to In Evidence.

"We've got a good bunch of three-year-olds up this way this year and Fine Shot and Acres Away are two of them," he said.

"Acres Away has already proved himself down south by winning at Eagle Farm while Fine Shot looks above average."

Fine Shot suffered his only defeat in four starts when the son of Spieth travelled to Brisbane and finished third to the Matt Dunn-trained Golden Decade over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm last November.

Golden Decade has since franked the form by winning a Highway race at Randwick in December.

Walsh, has only been training for three years and boasts one of the best strike rates of any trainer in the country.

He currently is striking at 30 per cent this season with 15 wins from 50 starts and has a similar strike rate over the past 12 months.