Wordplay is following a more traditional path to her spring finale than her half-brother Fiveandahalfstar a year ago and Anthony Cummings is predicting the result will be the same.

Fiveandahalfstar won a restricted race at Rosehill a week before his surprise win in the Victoria Derby while Wordplay prepares for her Oaks bid next week via Saturday's Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Cummings says Wordplay is capable of fighting out the finish of the Wakeful but is even more confident about her chances once she gets up to the 2500m of the Oaks.

"The timing is there and she's there and she's in just about the right race on Saturday," Cummings said.

"But she'll also be in the right race on Thursday."

After Wordplay finished second to Victoria Derby favourite Savvy Nature in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle, Cummings sent the filly to Melbourne to prepare for her Classic assignment.

She has since finished fifth in the Edward Manifold Stakes and fourth in the Group One Thousand Guineas.

"She has got back in her last couple of starts in slow-speed races and hit the line very well on both occasions, the first time through traffic and second time less so," Cummings said.

"Her finishing speeds have been good and she's plainly looking for a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.

"She gets her first look at that on Saturday from a good gate. She probably gets to sit a bit closer in the first part and I think that will make a big difference to her.

"She's a really nice filly, and if she lives up to her brother's performances then she's going to be very competitive."

The Wakeful has a field of 12 including last-start Group Two winner Gypsy Diamond, Oaks favourite May's Dream and Ethereal Stakes winner Arabian Gold.

In the past decade, four winners of the Wakeful (2000m) - Brazilian Pulse (2010) Faint Perfume (2009) Serenade Rose (2005) Hollow Bullet (2004) - have gone on to win the Oaks.