But manager Wayne Stewart said the stud will be back with a bumper draft in 2017.
White Robe Lodge had a "couple'' of yearlings who were candidates for the second-tier select sale, but Stewart has opted to hold them back from an arduous trip to the upper North Island to allow them to mature.
"We thought we would take them to the South Island sale in April,'' Stewart said.
"We just thought they aren't ready for the January sale and they're better off in April.
"Next year, it's quite the opposite - we should have a really nice draft of yearlings next year.''
Stewart was unsure of the last time the stud missed a national yearling sale, but New Zealand Bloodstock records show White Robe Lodge has taken a draft to the Karaka sales for every year since its records began in 1987.
The North Taieri stud had taken horses to the sales at Trentham for many years before that as well.
"I like going there,'' Stewart said.
"It's good to keep your face out there, but there's no point in going if you haven't got the right product.''
Stewart and the stud staff will be kept busy this summer through their other main outlet of business - selling horses direct from the farm.
"I've sold a lot of nice horses off the farm, too - I like selling them out of the paddock like Who Shot Thebarman and Blood Brotha,'' he said.
Who Shot The Barman continues to be a flagship horse for the stud.
While he did not get all luck in the run when finishing 11th in the Melbourne Cup, his punishing Zipping Classic win 11 days later reminded everyone of his class.
His half-sister, Serve The Aunt (by Nom du Jeu), is nominated for a 1000m maiden jumpout at Wingatui today.
"From now on in, people start looking for horses to buy, and quite a few people ring wanting to buy one out of the paddock. They either get me to pick one out for them or they come and have a look for themselves.''
Asked if the horses he selects out of the paddock generally make the grade, Stewart gave himself a pass mark.
"I reckon I'm a pretty good judge,'' Stewart laughed.
"You sell what you think is a nice horse and it's a good way to buy a horse.''
