Shocking denied Godolphin's Crime Scene a landmark success as he dug deep to land the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

A British-based runner has yet to win the Australian Group One but Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has twice saddled the runner-up in the two-mile heat.

Despite Crime Scene leading the field into the final two furlongs, the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking swooped late to steal the prize by just under a length.

Ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate Warringah was keen to make the running in the two-mile heat and he was still in front at the five-furlong point.

However, he began to toil at the top of the straight allowing Kerrin McEvoy to sweep through on Crime Scene and take it up three furlongs from home.

Corey Brown, who had been forced to run three wide of the rail, was tracking the Godolphin runner and switched out to challenge at the two-furlong marker.

Crime Scene made a good battle of it, but Shocking just had too much petrol in the tank and became the first horse since Brew in 2000 to follow up victory in last Saturday's Lexus Stakes with success in Australia's biggest race.

Brown was gaining adequate compensation after losing out by just a nose aboard Luca Cumani's Bauer in 2008.

"Last year was very disappointing, and now I've finally won the Melbourne Cup. It's a dream come true, I can't describe the feeling," said Brown.

"I kept looking on the outside thinking something was going to flash home. Great job Mark Kavanagh and the horse.

"He travelled three deep no cover, I know he had a light weight, but he toughed it out very well."

Kavanagh added: "I didn't give him a hope in the running, he was trapped deep.

"I said halfway through, it's hard to win a Melbourne Cup, but he looked so good on Saturday, and he improved since that run.

"This preparation was timed to perfection, he came good at the right time.

"I honestly thought he just can't keep going. He was just the superior stayer on the day."

Cumani saddled Basaltico this time but he could finish only 18th of the 23 runners while Ian Williams' Munsef was 12th.

Last year's winner Viewed finished seventh under top weight.