Tips And Beers might have to develop a taste for champagne after his Caulfield victory on Wednesday which has pointed him in the direction of the $1.5 million Victoria Derby.

A small field of eight contested the McCain's Foods Handicap (1600m) with apprentice Chad Schofield content to let Tips And Beers race near the rear of the field before setting him alight in the straight.

Tips And Beers ($7.50) got the better of Mantener La Fe ($5) in the sprint to the line to win by a length with No Equivalent ($8) a further length away third.

Trainer David Hayes said it was the first time he had seen his horse so relaxed in a race.

"I thought he might sit outside the leader but Chad wanted to relax him and he produced him late and he answered like a good horse," Hayes said.

Tips And Beers has the pedigree to be a Derby contender being a half sister to the Hayes-trained Roma Giaconda who finished third in the 2011 VRC Oaks.

"He's a light-framed horse built like a stayer and he raced like a stayer today," Hayes said.

"We'll look at the Derby but it all comes down to his feed - if he eats well we'll head towards the Derby, if he doesn't maybe the 1800 (metre race) on Oaks Day."