SINGAPORE (AFP) - Australia's star quartet stormed to a new mixed 4x50m medley relay world record in the opening heats of the World Cup shortcourse meet in Singapore on Tuesday.

Olympic and world gold medallist Cate Campbell anchored the time of 1min 39.08sec after swims by Robert Hurley, Christian Sprenger and Alicia Coutts.

The record, in a new event only introduced to the eight-stop World Cup circuit this season, beats the 1:39.54 set by France in Doha last month.

The time also raises the prospect of another world best in the evening finals, which will feature no fewer than three teams from Australia.

Ashley Delaney, Emily Seebohm, Tommaso D'Orsogna and Emma McKeon timed second fastest with 1:42.86, while Madison Wilson, Mitchell Larkin, Regan Leong and Chelsea Gillett were sixth.

World and Olympic stars Chad Le Clos, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Katinka Hosszu are also among the headline acts at the two-day event at Singapore Sports School.