Many humans can identify with the challenges Caulfield trainer Mick Price is working through with smart sprinter Lion Of Belfort.

Lion Of Belfort showed his talent with a third to Zoustar in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring but failed to flatter in two autumn runs.

Price searched for the reason for Lion Of Belfort's unplaced efforts in the Rubiton and Zeditave Stakes before a back examination revealed the three-year-old's problem.

"He went to scintigraphy and got diagnosed with kissing lesions in the spine," Price said.

"It's where the vertebrae get malaligned and they get inflamed. It's similar to a bulging disc in a human."

Lion Of Belfort immediately began rehabilitation to address the problem with his fitness regime involving work on the treadmill and water walker.

Price said he expected Lion Of Belfort to return to racing in the spring but he would not rush the exciting galloper back to the track.

"He's had a good spell and he's on the treadmill at rehab and he'll do some water walker and then he'll come back in and we'll give him a try," Price said.

"We have to give them time and we have got to work our way around the problem and be careful of concussion I guess."

Price will aim Lion Of Belfort at support races rather than the big sprints during the spring carnival.