Verry Elleegant and Prince Of Penzance brothers in photo finish.

There was a serious Melbourne Cup flavour to Monday's staying event at Mornington when a couple of brothers to winners of Australia's greatest race almost hit the line locked together.

Verry Elleegant's younger brother Affluential survived a late challenge from Heir To The Throne, a brother to Prince Of Penzance, to win the $27,000 Betavet BM70 Handicap over 3000 metres.

The two geldings know each other well with Affluential trained by John Leek, the husband of Heir To The Throne's trainer Andrea Leek.

The victory was Affluential's ninth at his first start since finishing second in the Galleywood Hurdle (3200m) at the Warrnambool Carnival. 

Like Verry Elleegant, he is by Zed out of the Danroad mare Opulence.

Heir To The Throne is a son of Pentire and the Mr Prospector mare Royal Successor, which is the same mating that produced the 2015 Melbourne Cup longshot winner Prince Of Penzance.