Preis Von Europa Preview: Queen to be crowned with her first Group 1?

Timeform's International Editor Chris Williams takes a look at the Preis von Europa, scheduled to take place at Cologne on Sunday...
Ovambo Queen heads an all-domestic affair for the 12-furlong Group 1 on Sunday, which is due for the off at 16:15. The five-year-old mare put up her best performance when splitting Arc winner Danedream and German Derby winner Pastorius when second in the Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden earlier this month. A reproduction of that form would be good enough to give Ovambo Queen her first success at Group 1 level.
She had earlier won the Group 2 Hansa Preis at Hamburg, where she narrowly got the better of Waldpark, but she was only fourth to Meandre in the Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in between, with Earl of Tinsdal and Baschar also ahead of her.
Earl of Tinsdal, the only confirmed front runner in Sunday's field, was successful in the Gran Premio di Milano at Milan in June (Joshua Tree was fourth), but was below his best when third to the filly Temida in the Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich on his only outing since Hoppegarten.
Baschar, the winner of a listed race at Hoppegarten in April, has been in the form of his life on his last two outings, finishing fourth to Ovambo Queen in the Hansa-Preis then running an even better race when having that mare one place behind him when they were third and fourth in the Grosser Preis von Berlin.
Waldpark has been runner-up three times this year, in a listed race at Cologne (giving weight away all round), the Hansa Preis at Hamburg (beaten a nose by Ovambo Queen) and a listed race at Baden-Baden (odds-on and some way below his best over 11 furlongs, but this longer trip should suit him better).
Feuerblitz won the Derby Italiano at Rome in May and finished a clear margin ahead of Earl of Tinsdal when the pair were placed behind Temida at Munich last time.
Girolamo was in the frame in three pattern races during the summer, including when sent over to Goodwood for the Gordon Stakes, but he was beaten a fair way by Ovambo Queen when fifth in the Grosser Preis von Baden on his most recent outing.
Araldo has won all three of his races this year, but still has plenty of improvement to find after winning a listed race at Baden-Baden over a mile and three quarters last time.
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings:
133 Ovambo Queen
130 Earl of Tinsdal
125 Baschar
125 Waldpark
121 Feuerblitz
120 Girolamo
114 Araldo